‘Khatam, tata, bye bye’ – Twitter panics as ‘unlucky’ Richard Kettleborough gets appointed 3rd Umpire for WTC Final against Australia

The umpire panel for the highly anticipated World Test Championship final between India and Australia, scheduled to begin on the 7th of June, has been officially announced. The list includes experienced officials who are well-regarded in the cricketing world. However, one particular name on the panel has caught the attention of Indian cricket fans and sparked a wave of humour mixed with superstition.

Richard Kettleborough, an accomplished umpire, has been assigned as the third umpire for the WTC Final. What makes this noteworthy is the coincidence that Kettleborough has been the on-field umpire in every knockout game that India has lost since 2014. This includes several significant matches such as the 2014 T20 World Cup Final, the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final, the 2016 T20 World Cup Semi-Final, the 2017 Champions Trophy Final, and the 2019 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final.

To add to the intriguing twist, whenever Kettleborough has served as the TV umpire for India, they have also faced defeat in the finals. This statistical anomaly has led to a wave of hilarious responses from Indian cricket fans, who have embraced the notion that India has already lost the final due to Kettleborough’s perceived “bad luck” for the team.

The humorous reactions from Indian cricket fans showcase their passion, wit, and ability to find amusement in such circumstances. It’s important to note that these responses are lighthearted in nature and should be seen as a form of light-hearted banter rather than a genuine belief in superstition.

While it’s all in good fun, it’s worth remembering that the outcome of a cricket match depends on the players’ skills, strategies, and performance on the day. Umpires, regardless of their previous associations, play a crucial role in ensuring fair play and making impartial decisions during the game. The final result of the World Test Championship will ultimately be determined by the teams’ performances, not by any perceived superstitions surrounding the match officials.

As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the clash between India and Australia, fans will continue to revel in their light-hearted banter, adding a touch of humour to the build-up of what promises to be an exhilarating encounter on the cricket field.

Here’s how Twitter reacted : 

https://twitter.com/vipintiwari952/status/1663130015574413314

https://twitter.com/UnfilteredYash/status/1663125919207247872

https://twitter.com/jxshxrxn7/status/1663126293120991232

Here’s the squad for WTC Final between Indis and Australia:

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadakt, Umesh Yadav.

Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Suryakumar Yadav

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Josh Inglis, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Reserves: Mitch Marsh, Matt Renshaw

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