Rishabh Pant, who had been in fine form, hit Ajaz Patel for two boundaries and even survived a DRS review earlier in the innings. However, his luck changed on the fourth ball of an over. Patel bowled a full delivery on off stump, which turned sharply and bounced as Pant attempted to defend with his feet. The ball grazed his inside edge, prompting Kiwi keeper Tom Blundell to take a lunging catch.
The Review Decision
New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted for a review, leading to a tense moment as the 15-second timer counted down. Despite Pant’s bemusement—he glanced back to see if a catch had been completed—UltraEdge revealed a spike when the ball approached his bat, though it also showed contact with his pad. Pant argued his case with the umpires, but the third umpire upheld the on-field decision, leading to a slow walk back to the dressing room after he scored 64 runs off 57 balls.
After this controversial decision, the former South African great AB de Villiers reflected his point of view on social media
India’s Struggle For Victory
As India chased 147 runs to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash, they found themselves in dire straits at lunch, sitting at 92-6. Pant’s half-century had briefly provided hope, particularly with a 42-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who managed just 6 runs. Ajaz Patel shone with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 43 runs in 10 overs, making him the most successful visiting bowler at any venue in India.
