DRS drama at the Oval: Kumar Dharmasena’s brain-fade moments sparks outrage

The 5th and final Test between India and England at The Oval began with a major umpiring controversy. On Day 1, Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena made a crucial error during an LBW appeal against India’s Sai Sudharsan. England’s Josh Tongue bowled a fiery inswinging yorker that hit Sudharsan on the pad, but Dharmasena denied the appeal, wrongly signaling an inside edge—helping England save a DRS review they might have otherwise lost. Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar didn’t hold back, slamming Dharmasena for what he called a “habit from the pre-DRS era.” In contrast, Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary defended Dharmasena, calling it an honest mistake made in the heat of the moment. This video breaks down the entire controversy, the reactions, and how one signal may have altered England’s DRS strategy.