'Correct decision was made' - Ricky Ponting gives his verdict on Shubman Gill's dismissal

Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting believes that the umpire made the right decision regarding Cameron Green's catch of Shubman Gill on Day 4 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Just before Tea on Day 4, third umpire Richard Kettleborough ruled the Indian opener out. The ball raced towards Green at gully after Australian pacer Scott Boland induced an edge. Green dived to his left and grabbed a brilliant catch. 

Not convinced by the cleanness of catch, the on-filed umpires referred the decision to the third umpire who judged that the fielder had his hands under the ball and was in control of it. Both Rohit Sharma and Gill hammered some magnificent strokes to give India a spectacular start. India were given a target of 444 to win the WTC final, and a terrific opening partnership of 41 was shattered with Gill's departure.

Meanwhile, India supporters were just as stunned as Rohit and Gill after the latter's dismissal. In the same vein, former Australia skipper believes that the umpires made the correct decision as they evaluated whether the fielder had control over the ball at the time of the catch.  

"When I saw it live, I knew it had carried to him on the full, but I wasn’t sure what the action was after that from all replays we have seen. I actually think some part of the ball did touch the ground and it is the interpretation of the umpire that as long as the fielder has complete control of the ball before the ball hits the ground, then it is out. That must have been what the umpires’ interpretation was and I think that is exactly what happened. It carried probably six or eight inches off the ground then there was another action after that," Ponting told ICC.

There will be a lot of criticism about the decision: Ricky Ponting

The 48-year-old highlighted that there will be plenty of criticism about the decision, with the bulk of it from India.

"There will be a lot of talk about it, I am sure, and there will probably be more talk in India than in Australia. Everyone in India will think it is not out and everyone in Australia will think it is out. If it had been given out on the field then I think the third umpire has to find conclusive evidence to overturn that decision and I don’t think there would have been conclusive evidence," he said.

"The reason I am saying that is, even without the soft signal, the third umpire thought it was out. At the end of the day I think the correct decision has probably been made," he added further.