November 3, 2024: Rishabh Pant’s dismissal during India’s chase in the Mumbai Test has certainly stirred up significant debate regarding its legitimacy.
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Initially given out caught bat-pad, the decision was overturned after a DRS review initiated by New Zealand captain Tom Latham. At the time, Pant had contributed a vital 64 runs and India’s situation was precarious at 106 for 6, needing just 41 runs to win before ultimately falling short by 25 runs.
Rohit Sharma expressed uncertainty about the decision, highlighting the need for consistent application of the rules. “If there is no conclusive evidence, the third umpire can’t overturn it. It was an unfortunate dismissal,” he said, reflecting on how pivotal Pant’s performance could have been in the match.
Earlier in the innings, New Zealand had missed a chance to review a potential lbw against Pant when India was struggling at 59 for 5, which could have further altered the game’s dynamics. The decisive moment came when Ajaz Patel’s bowling led to a situation where Pant’s defensive shot seemed to generate a spike on UltraEdge, but the proximity of the bat and pad raised doubts about whether the spike came from the bat making contact with the pad.
As the replays played out, New Zealand celebrated, while Pant appeared composed, having just shared a moment of reassurance with Washington Sundar. Ultimately, the third umpire, Paul Reiffel, ruled that there was a deflection off the bat before the ball struck the pad, leading to Pant’s dismissal.
In the aftermath, Rohit acknowledged broader concerns about the form of senior players in the team, emphasizing the need for improvement as they shift focus to the upcoming series in Australia. “It is a concern when seniors aren’t scoring runs… But we have an opportunity to do something special in Australia. We’ll focus on that now,” he said, redirecting the team’s mindset toward future challenges.
