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Following India‘s tight loss to New Zealand in the Mumbai Test, Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, voiced his doubts over Rishabh Pant‘s controversial dismissal. The dismissal, which took place early in the afternoon session on the third day, cut short Pant’s quick-fire 57-ball 64 due to a debated third umpire decision that left Rohit questioning its legitimacy.
Rishabh Pant’s dismissal sparks debate
Pant’s wicket fell in the 22nd over of India’s chase when he stepped forward to attack a delivery from New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel. Missing the ball’s line, Pant pushed defensively, and the ball skimmed past him, making contact with his pad and popping up to be caught by keeper Tom Blundell. On-field umpire Richard Illingworth initially ruled Pant ‘not out’, but New Zealand opted for a review, leading to an in-depth analysis by third umpire Paul Reiffel.
During the review, UltraEdge technology detected a slight noise as the ball passed Pant’s bat. However, Pant appeared to indicate that the sound may have resulted from his bat hitting his pad. Despite this, Reiffel reversed the original decision, ruling Pant out.
Rohit Sharma’s take on the controversy
Rohit addressed his doubts over the decision to dismiss Pant, especially considering the lack of clear evidence to overturn the on-field umpire’s original ‘not out’ call. Rohit pointed out that, according to standard practice, an on-field decision should stand if the evidence is inconclusive. Expressing his confusion over the reversal, he implies that such decisions should follow consistent rules. Rohit also hinted at the criticism players face if they question umpiring calls, suggesting that even a well-grounded inquiry might not be well-received.
“About that dismissal, I honestly, I don’t know. If we say something, it is not accepted well. But if there is no conclusive evidence, it has to go, it has to stand with the umpire’s on-field decision. That is what I have been told. So, I don’t know how that decision was overturned since the umpire didn’t give him out,” said Rohit in the press conference.
Also READ: IND vs NZ: AB de Villiers comments on Rishabh Pant’s controversial dismissal in third Test
A turning point in the game
Pant’s dismissal, coming at a time when he looked well-positioned to guide India to a win, shifted the match’s momentum. Rohit admitted that the loss of Pant’s wicket dealt a severe blow to India’s hopes, as they soon lost the remaining wickets, resulting in a 25-run defeat and a 0-3 series whitewash. Rohit further elaborated on the dismissal’s impact, noting that the bat was close to Pant’s pad and questioning whether discussing it openly is appropriate. He emphasized the need for consistency in officiating decisions across teams, hinting that varied standards can unfairly affect match outcomes.
“You know, the bat was clearly close to the pad. So, again, I don’t know if it is the right thing for me to talk about. It is something for the umpires to think about. Have the same rules for every team, not keep changing their mind. But again, that dismissal actually was very, very crucial from our point of view. Rishabh was really looking good at that point and it felt like he will take us through. But it was an unfortunate dismissal, got out and then we were bowled out right after that,” added Rohit.
