India did well to keep the target to 146 in the third Test, but they threw away the advantage after some bizarre cricket. The hosts needed a good start to chase the target, which looked small but was a competitive one given the conditions. Rohit Sharma looked unsettled at the crease and played a poor shot to get out for 11. Shubman Gill batted brilliantly in the first innings and scored 90, but he was dismissed for just one run.
Meanwhile, Ajaz Patel also removed Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan while Glenn Phillips got rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal to leave India reeling at 29-5. Rishabh Pant came to India's rescue as he played a brilliant counter-attacking knock. He added 42 runs with Ravindra Jadeja and then stitched a handy partnership with Washington Sundar, catching himself a half-century, to take India to 92-6 at Lunch. Pant threatened to take the game away from New Zealand before a controversial decision ended his stay at the crease at 64. Pant was given not out for bat-pad, but the third umpire felt he hit the ball despite the replays showing the bat hitting the pad as well. It was a fifty-fifty call that didn't go Pant's way. The wicketkeeper-batter was dejected as he walked back to the pavilion.
I think it was the bat hitting the pad that made the disturbance on ultra-edge. Rishabh Pant was also trying to explain the same thing to the umpires.That's why we need HotSpot + UltraEdge in DRS. pic.twitter.com/77Tw7LcrAp
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) November 3, 2024
Rishabh Pant Out nhi tha bhai saaf dikh raha pic.twitter.com/7mzaXBYZuL
— Professor Sahab (@ProfesorSahab) November 3, 2024
It was a clear not-out. It can be seen clearly that the bat struck the pad and so was the peak. Bad decision by 3rd umpire. Luck going against Rishabh pant this time.#INDvNZ#Rishabhpantpic.twitter.com/AiZaHsuMhu
— Soumya (@Soumyaraj2204) November 3, 2024