Former South African captain AB de Villiers has expressed uncertainty regarding the dismissal of Rishabh Pant in the third Test against New Zealand. India, chasing a modest target of 147 runs, were reduced to 29/5 before Pant's explosive innings brought them back into the game.
Rishabh Pant's controversial dismissal sparks debate
At the lunch break, Pant and Washington Sundar were well-set, with India's position looking promising. Given Pant's aggressive batting style and Sundar's ability to contribute with the bat, India seemed to have a good chance of securing a consolation win.
However, soon after the lunch break, a controversial moment unfolded. Ajaz Patel induced Pant to play a defensive shot to a short ball, which deflected off the pad and popped up to Tom Blundell. The on-field umpire initially ruled the dismissal as not out.
The New Zealand team appealed for a review, and the UltraEdge technology showed a spike when the ball passed the bat. However, TV umpire Paul Reiffel controversially ruled that the ball had brushed the inside edge of Pant's bat, leading to a caught-behind dismissal. This crucial decision triggered a collapse in the Indian batting order, ultimately resulting in a 25-run defeat and a series whitewash for India.
AB De Villiers reacts to Rishabh Pant's dismissal
"Controversy! Little grey area once again. Did Pant get bat on that or not? Problem is when the ball passes the bat at exactly the same time a batter hits his pad snicko will pick up the noise. But how sure are we he hit it? I’ve always worried about this and here it happens at a huge moment in a big Test. Where’s hotspot," de Villiers tweeted.
Pant's dismissal left India reeling at 106/7, and the team was eventually bowled out for 121 runs.
The recently concluded third Test between India and New Zealand was filled with drama and excitement. Ultimately, New Zealand secured a historic series whitewash, becoming the first team to achieve this feat on Indian soil.
With this 3-0 series victory, New Zealand joined an elite group of teams, including England, Australia, and West Indies, who have whitewashed India in a Test series of three or more matches. Moreover, this was the first time New Zealand has won all three Tests in a series, whether at home or away. This achievement also marks the first time New Zealand has won the first three Tests of a series on foreign soil.
