Australia Great Questions DRS Call That Saved Rohit Sharma: "There's No Way"

The second ODI between India and Australia in Adelaide had its share of drama, as a Decision Review System (DRS) call in the early stages of India’s innings created an uproar among fans and experts alike. Former Australia batter Mark Waugh was visibly stunned on commentary after Rohit Sharma survived a close leg-before appeal against Josh Hazlewood in the sixth over — a moment that soon became one of the talking points of the match.

In the sixth over, Hazlewood delivered a nipping good-length ball just outside off. Rohit, attempting an aggressive shot across the line, missed the ball completely, which thudded into his pads. The on-field umpire turned down a loud appeal from the Australian side, who immediately went for DRS, confident of overturning the decision.

UltraEdge, however, revealed a faint spike suggesting an inside edge before the ball struck the pads. The third umpire upheld the on-field call, much to the Aussies’ frustration. Both Hazlewood and Waugh were left unconvinced by the evidence, with the latter remarking on air, “There was no way there was an inside edge.”

“I Can’t See How He’s Hit That”

Mark Waugh elaborated further during his live commentary on Fox Cricket, arguing that the ball had clearly missed the bat entirely. “You can see Hazlewood there going, ‘I didn’t hear anything.’ I can’t see how he’s hit that. He was late on it. I can’t see an inside edge on that, to be honest with you,” Waugh said as replays zoomed in on the ball’s movement.

The commentators noted how the front-on replay and stump camera did not show bat involvement, though UltraEdge showed a faint spike. Despite the controversy, umpiring protocols dictated that the third umpire rely on the Snickometer reading, thereby saving Rohit from an early dismissal.

Rohit Survives, Then Shines

Rohit Sharma made full use of the lifeline to regain form after a disappointing return in the first ODI at Perth, where he scored just eight. In Adelaide, the veteran opener steadied his start, focusing on timing and shot selection rather than explosive hitting.
He went on to score 73 off 97 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes. Two of his trademark pull shots soared over deep square leg, bringing back memories of his vintage strokeplay. This patient knock not only anchored India’s innings but also saw Rohit surpass Sourav Ganguly to become India’s third-highest run-getter in ODI history.

Rohit now has 11,249 runs in 275 ODIs at an average of 48.69, including 32 centuries and 59 fifties. He sits behind only Virat Kohli (14,181 runs in 304 ODIs) and Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs in 463 ODIs) on the all-time Indian charts.

Match Context: India Fight Back After Early Blows

The DRS incident occurred in a critical phase when India’s top order was under pressure. Shubman Gill fell cheaply for 9 off Xavier Bartlett, and Virat Kohli failed yet again, dismissed for an early duck by Bartlett using a late outswinger.
Rohit’s partnership with Shreyas Iyer (61 off 77) brought much-needed stability. The duo stitched a 118-run stand for the third wicket, helping India post 264/9 from 50 overs.

For Australia, spinner Adam Zampa (4/60) and pacer Bartlett (3/39) were the pick of the bowlers, while Hazlewood’s disciplined spell (10-0-29-0) went unrewarded on the scorecard but played a vital role in containing India early.

Waugh’s Reaction Sparks Debate

Waugh’s disbelief sparked further discussion among fans and commentators, many of whom backed his view. The incident reignited debates over the reliability of DRS technology, especially regarding fine margins where audio spikes may pick up extraneous sounds or cause optical illusions.
Nevertheless, the ruling stood, giving Rohit the platform to remind the critics why he remains India’s most dependable opener in the 50-over format.