Ashwin Slams Umpire Paul Reiffel Over Poor Decisions in IND vs ENG Test

In the ongoing India vs England third Test at Lord’s, Ravichandran Ashwin has stirred up a major controversy with his sharp criticism of on-field umpire Paul Reiffel.

The Indian off-spinner openly questioned Reiffel’s decisions, suggesting that his calls consistently go against India.

Ashwin was particularly upset with the LBW and caught-behind decisions that favoured England. Speaking about Shubman Gill’s dismissal, Ashwin said, “There was so much gap between the bat and ball that my sedan can park through it, yet it was given out.” DRS eventually overturned the decision, but the frustration remained. Ashwin even revealed that his father told him, “We won’t win when Paul Reiffel is umpiring.”

Former Cricketers Join the Criticism

R Ashwin on Paul reiffel umpire :-
#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/gHSEMW9wHt
— Atul Kapoor (@atulkapoor569) July 14, 2025

Ashwin’s comments didn’t go unnoticed, and several former cricketers supported his views. Sunil Gavaskar, who was on commentary, was stunned at some of the decisions made by Reiffel. Anil Kumble also came forward, stating that it felt like the umpire had already made up his mind that nothing was out when England was batting.

Even former England batter Jonathan Trott joined the discussion. He referred to Joe Root’s LBW appeal and said it looked plumb in real-time. Yet, it was not ruled out by Reiffel, adding more fuel to the fire.

Ashwin didn’t stop at expressing his frustration. He called on the ICC to review such patterns of decision-making if they appear repeatedly. According to him, it’s not just about a single error but the overall fairness of the game. He believes players shouldn’t be at the mercy of poor umpiring in matches where every run and wicket counts.

With the series level at 1–1, every moment matters, and questionable umpiring only increases the tension. While the ICC hasn’t yet responded, Ashwin’s bold statements have definitely sparked a wider conversation about accountability and standards in international umpiring.

Whether the governing body takes notice or not, Ashwin’s outburst has certainly made players and fans more alert to what happens in the middle.