Dilruwan Perera is no Steve Smith. The Sri Lankan's batting average in tests is 21.75. Steve Smith's is 59.66. Maybe that is why when the former started walking off after being adjudged leg before by Mohammed Shami only to return and ask for referral, which he had forgotten to ask for earlier, the Indian team didn't protest at all. In Smith's case in Bengaluru, skipper Virat Kohli-led India not only objected to Smith taking instructions for DRS from the dressing room but also accused his Australian counterpart of cheating.
Smith had apologised for looking towards the dressing room, describing it as a “brainfade”.
As far as the Sri Lankans are concerned, Rangana Herath who was batting alongside Perera at the other end said after the day's play got over, “I was looking at umpire Nigel Llong and asking (whether there was any review left). I did not call him (Perera) maybe he heard from the umpire."
A non-striker as per ICC rules cannot ask for a review but can be consulted by the batsman on strike for the same.
Television commentators speculated on whether Perera received a signal from the dressing room to ask for a review―an act that is not permitted under DRS rules.
In a release issued by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, the matter was further clarified. “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to clarify the ambiguity surrounding the DRS appeal of Dilruwan Perera during the 3rd days play of the 1st Test in Kolkata earlier this afternoon. Contrary to the assumptions made, there was no "message from the dressing room" involved in the requested review.
“Having mistakenly assumed that Sri Lanka were out of reviews, Dilruwan Perera had turned to leave the field when he heard Rangana Herath inquire from the on-field umpire Nigel Llong if Sri Lanka have any reviews left, to which Llong answered in the affirmative. It was then that Dilruwan requested the review.
“We wish to place on record that every single Sri Lankan player and official is not only strongly respectful and bounden to uphold the rules and regulations of the ICC, but plays their game of cricket under the ethics and principles of true sportsmanship and the Spirit of Cricket.”
Team India too didn't make any fuss over the incident. Speaking to the media after the day's play, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said, “That's something I can't speak on, because that should come out from the officials and we haven't heard anything from the officials. So it won't be fair to comment anything on that.”
When further pressed why Team India was not bringing the matter up as it did in Australia and Smith's case, Kumar said, “We are quiet because until an official word doesn’t come about the incident we cannot speak about it. If we talk about it, but match referee says that was fair, then it would be a wrong thing to do. We didn’t pay attention on the incident, we were busy celebrating giving high-fives, later we saw that on sight screen, but we didn’t comment on it because nothing was confirmed from the match officials.”
