'It is beyond my understanding' - Aakash Chopra not pleased with Ravichandran Ashwin taking review to challenge third umpire's decision in TNPL 2023 

Aakash Chopra & Ravichandran Ashwin (Source: Twitter)

India's veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin has continued to make headlines ever since he was left out of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final playing XI. With Team India having a month-long break with no matches until next month, Ashwin has decided to be a part of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2023 and is currently leading Dindigul Dragons.

Dragons failed to qualify for the Playoffs last year, finishing sixth in the points table. However, they started the 2023 season on a positive note by beating Ba11sy Trichy in their opening game. But what grabbed attention more than their success was skipper Ashwin's double DRS review.

The strange incident happened in the fifth ball of the 13th over when Ashwin appealed for caught behind off his own bowling and the on-field umpire gave the Trichy all-rounder R Rajkumar red signal. Rajkumar felt there wasn't bat involved and decided to sent it upstairs for a review. The replay appeared to show a spike, but the third umpire deemed it as a bat hitting the ground, hence ruled 'not out'.

Ashwin wasn't happy with umpire's decision and he signalled for another review. The right-arm spinners' efforts did not yield results, but the incident went viral on social media. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra believes that Ashwin helped bring the Tamil Nadu league into global limelight.

"Ashwin anna's small matter has brought TNPL to the world map. Ashwin and everyone were happy but the batter asked for a review. The third umpire was very good. He followed the protocol, checked all angles, and figured out that the ball had not reached the bat when the spike came because of the bat hitting the ground. Well done, he umpired very well and said it was not out," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"When the TNPL officials look back, they will say that..."

Chopra, who is also a cricket commentator, expressed displeasure with Ashwin challenging the TV umpire's decision.

"Ashwin said he wanted to review it again. He reviewed a review and it happened as well. It is beyond my understanding. I feel when the TNPL officials look back, they will say that this option was not available," the former Indian opener said.

"You can't do it. There are multiple reasons for that - you need to take the review within 15 seconds. The review was taken and the third umpire told, with all due diligence, what his thinking was. Now you are reviewing the third umpire's thinking and asking him only to be the judge," he concluded.