'Awful umpiring!' — Fans slam controversial Dhruv Jurel catch that dismissed Lahiru Udara in IND vs SL 1st Test

A controversial dismissal involving Dhruv Jurel and Lahiru Udara became one of the biggest talking points in the Galle Test. Udara was given out after Jurel claimed a low catch at gully off Manav Suthar’s bowling. The decision quickly sparked debate among fans and cricket followers.

Jurel completed a sharp catch close to the ground, but there was confusion over whether the ball had touched the ground before reaching his hands. The third umpire reviewed the incident and ruled in India’s favour, confirming Udara’s dismissal. However, the close replays left many viewers questioning the decision.

The dismissal led to strong reactions from fans and cricket pundits on social media. Some criticised Jurel and felt he should have apologised if he was unsure about the catch, while others supported him and backed the umpire’s decision. The controversial moment added more drama to the final stages of the Galle Test.

Watch Jurel’s controversial catch here:

What happened in the Jurel catch in Galle? Why did the third umpire give it out?

The dismissal came when Sri Lanka were in serious trouble while chasing 372 runs. Lahiru Udara was dismissed for 16 after edging Manav Suthar’s delivery towards Dhruv Jurel, who was positioned close in. Jurel stayed low and appeared to get his fingers underneath the ball, but there were immediate doubts about whether it had touched the ground.

The on-field umpires sent the decision to the third umpire after replays showed that the catch was extremely close. Several angles were checked, but the footage was not completely clear. Raveendra Wimalasiri, who took over as the third umpire after Rod Tucker fell unwell, reviewed the catch and eventually ruled that Jurel had completed it cleanly.

See also -Watch: Dhananjaya de Silva takes stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Dhruv Jurel in SL vs IND 2026 1st Test

Wimalasiri was satisfied that Jurel’s fingers were underneath the ball when he completed the catch and upheld the on-field decision. Udara appeared surprised by the decision and was reluctant to leave the field. His dismissal left Sri Lanka four wickets down for 47 runs and increased the pressure on the hosts in their chase.

Manav Suthar strikes as Sri Lanka slip to 84/4, needing 288 to win on the final day

Manav Suthar played a key role as Sri Lanka slipped to 84/4 at stumps on Day 4 of the first Test. The left-arm spinner took 2/30 after claiming 4/76 in the first innings. Sri Lanka now need another 288 runs on the final day to chase India’s target of 372.

India strengthened their position after being bowled out for 193 in their second innings. KL Rahul scored 35 and Devdutt Padikkal made 44 as they added 64 runs together. Rishabh Pant then scored a quick 66 off 69 balls, including two sixes, and became the first Indian to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

See also -Watch: Dhruv Jurel's dismissal sparks Snicko controversy in SL vs IND 1st Test

India had earlier posted 462 in their first innings before dismissing Sri Lanka for 284. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck early in India’s second innings, while Shubman Gill scored only 8. Prabath Jayasuriya took 3/43, but India still managed to set Sri Lanka a challenging target and put themselves in a strong position to win the Test.

Social media erupts as fans question DRS call and Udara fumes over controversial dismissal

The controversial dismissal of Lahiru Udara sparked strong reactions from fans and cricket experts on social media. Senior cricket journalist Anand Vasu questioned the decision, saying, “Jurel is crouched down, knees on the floor. The edge comes to him. He appears to have fingers under the ball, but in completing the catch the ball looks like it brushed the ground.” He felt the evidence was not strong enough to give Udara out.

India Today senior editor Rahul Rawat was even more critical of the decision. He wrote, “That catch by Dhruv Jurel shouldn't be even up for debate. That was clearly not out. Lahiru Udara has only the TV umpire to blame for this one.” Several fans shared similar views, with one saying, “There's absolutely no way that Jurel catch is clean lol. There's no chance that ball hasn't touched the ground.”

However, some fans also accepted that it was a difficult catch to judge. One supporter praised Jurel’s effort but questioned the decision, saying, “Outstanding stretch forward catch by Dhruv Jurel under the helmet at gully, but I'm damn sure most 3rd umpires would have given it NOT OUT.” The mixed reactions showed how closely the decision was debated among fans and experts. Here is how the fans reacted on Twitter: