WATCH | Controversy ensues at MCG as umpire calls “dead-ball” after Bhuvneshwar bowls from behind the umpire

After a delayed start due to rain, Indian bowlers kept a probing line and made sure that the Aussie openers wouldn’t get a start they had wanted. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, among the duo, was more impressive as he attacked the stumps with his clever usage of the new ball that also provided him enough amount of swing to trouble Aaron Finch’s outside edge.

While India were clearly at the top of their game, they found themselves amidst the centre of a mini controversy with the umpire. The incident in question took place on the penultimate ball of the 9th over. Bhuvneshwar Kumar streamed in and tried bowling a full ball, but was a bit unorthodox in his approach as he decided to release it from behind the umpire.

When Finch saw Bhuvneshwar on his way to releasing it from such long distance, he decided to pull himself away from playing the shot, but by then the bowler’s momentum had already resulted in the release of the delivery. Technically, the Indian pacer was well within his rights to deliver from the position that he did and Finch was way too late from pulling himself away, but the umpire was not buying into the rules and called it a dead ball.

The decision surprised the Indian team as Kumar immediately replied back to the umpire saying, “That can't be a dead ball”. Virat Kohli was also surprised by the decision and came forward to discuss with the umpire before deciding to carry on with the game.