“Nitin Menon will signal out against Kohli even without appeal..but reacts differently to Rohit” – Twitter users allege that umpire Nitin Menon favored Rohit Sharma in the recent Indore Test

Before the outset of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between India and Australia at Holkar Stadium, one of the eleven ICC (International Cricket Council) Elite Panel umpires, Nitin Menon, reported a disastrous session of Test cricket.

Menon gave Rohit Sharma, captain of India, not one but two lifelines in the opening over of the game. Australia’s Mitchell Starc, playing in his first international encounter since last year’s Christmas Day Test in Melbourne, almost had Sharma out twice in his opening over before the umpire ruled otherwise.

Sharma edged a delivery to Australia’s wicket-keeper Alex Carey on the first ball itself, but neither Menon nor Australia’s captain, Steven Smith, noticed the nick or chose to question him. The two circumstances were repeated when Starc found Sharma struck in front of the stumps.

Menon made his fourth mistake of the morning session when he failed to rule India wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat (17) out lbw against Nathan Lyon. Menon had previously ruled India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (4), out lbw off a played ball delivery before his ultimate departure.

Third umpire Richard Kettleborough quickly reversed the call made by the on-field umpire when Smith challenged him.

When Menon erroneously pronounced former India captain Virat Kohli out in the second Test in Delhi last month, the umpire became a meme target on Twitter, where many claimed he had favoured Sharma over Kohli. Some comments joked that if Kohli had been batting in front of Menon, he would have still signalled out without an appeal.

Nitin Menon:

Makes wrong Makes wrong
decision to decision to
get Kohli out save Rohit pic.twitter.com/IdyUERq8nW

— B` (@Bishh04) March 1, 2023

Abbe Umpire Nitin Menon #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/oNhsF5W6nr

— Mehran मेहरान 🇮🇳 (@mehranzaidi) March 1, 2023

Australia didn't take 2 reviews that were out.
India took 2 reviews that were not; didn't take one that was.

Nitin Menon is not the only one struggling on this pitch.

— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) March 1, 2023

Nitin Menon when Kohli plays vs when Rohit plays. #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/OYXhzvj4WU

— Kohlified. (@123perthclassic) March 1, 2023

Nitin Menon already practicing for Mumbai Indians for IPL 2023. pic.twitter.com/GuLzLZCk3I

— Swara🍃 (@SwaraMSDian) March 1, 2023

Nitin Menon if Kohli hits a 4: pic.twitter.com/bGoEzT1bOj

— Hasanmuki (@haage_sumane) March 1, 2023

Nitin Menon is like that person who writes long career posts on Linkedin but is himself horrible at his job.

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) March 1, 2023