Jasprit Bumrah's palpable exasperation with the Decision Review System (DRS) took centre stage during the first session of Day 4 in the second Test against the West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium, as a contentious lbw appeal against John Campbell was overturned. The Indian pace maestro, known for his surgical precision, struck Campbell plumb in front of the stumps with a sharp inswinger, prompting a fervent appeal from the hosts. On-field umpire Richard Illingworth ruled not out, suspecting an inside edge, but captain Shubman Gill immediately reviewed, confident of a plumb decision.

The drama intensified in the third umpire's room, where Alex Wharf scrutinised replays for an agonising few minutes. Ball-tracking projections indicated the delivery would have demolished the middle stump, but a faint spike on UltraEdge suggested possible bat involvement, leading Wharf to uphold the on-field call due to inconclusive evidence on whether pad preceded bat. Bumrah, undeterred and visibly animated, was captured on the stump mic delivering a blunt assessment to Illingworth as he trudged back: "You know it's out, but the technology can't prove it." Commentators echoed the sentiment, with one noting it captured the frustration felt by viewers at home, highlighting occasional limitations in cricket's technological aids despite their overall reliability.

Campbell, 95 at the time, capitalised on the reprieve, launching the very next ball from Ravindra Jadeja over deep midwicket for six to reach a gritty maiden Test century off 150 balls—his second in the format and the first by a West Indies opener against a major side since Chris Gayle's 150 in 2012. The left-hander's knock, blending stoic defence with calculated aggression, propelled West Indies to 278/3 at lunch, narrowing the deficit to 96 runs in their follow-on innings after India's commanding 518/5 declared. Partnering with Shai Hope (unbeaten on 84), Campbell extended their second-wicket stand to 200 runs, frustrating India's spin troika of Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin on a pitch offering mild turn.

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Ironically, Campbell's joy was short-lived; a few overs post-lunch, Jadeja exacted revenge with another lbw trap, this time upheld on review as ball-tracking confirmed it clipping leg stump. Campbell reviewed in vain, departing for 100 and leaving the West Indies at 290/4, still 84 adrift. The incident underscores the fine margins in Test cricket, where DRS—introduced in 2008 to eliminate glaring errors—relies on protocols like "umpire's call" for ambiguous scenarios, occasionally sparking debates on its efficacy. Bumrah's candid outburst, while unfiltered, reflects his relentless pursuit of excellence, having already claimed 3/42 in the first innings alongside Kuldeep's maiden five-wicket haul.

As the match hangs in balance—India leading 1-0 after a 10-wicket romp in the opener—this DRS saga adds intrigue to the World Test Championship encounter. West Indies' resilience, buoyed by Campbell's counter-punch, has forced India to recalibrate, with Bumrah's fire now channelled toward dismantling the lower order. Fans and pundits alike are left pondering: did technology falter, or was it a legitimate escape? Whichever, it fuelled one of the day's most memorable moments.

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