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Wasim Jaffer felt the replays were inconclusive in determining whether Rishabh Pant was out during third day of Mumbai Test.
Rishabh Pant (right) scored 64 before being dismissed. (BCCI Photo)
Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the third Test between India and New Zealand sparked controversy. The wicketkeeper-batter was adjudged caught-behind on the third day when the hosts were chasing 147 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The on-field umpire though gave it as not-out but the decision was reversed by the TV umpire after New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted for the DRS.
Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer feels that the review was not “conclusive enough” for the on-field not-out decision to be overturned.
Jaffer shared his opinion via a social media post where he sympathised with Pant.
During the 22nd over of India’s second innings, the hosts were reeling at 106/6 following a batting collapse. Pant though counterattacked on a challenging pitch, hitting a superb half-century. He was batting on 64 when he came down the track but didn’t come close to the pitch of the ball which eventually settled into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
The New Zealand fielders made a loud appeal but the on-field umpire Richard Illingworth was not convinced.
Upon review, the ultra-edge showed a spike when the ball was passing the bat. However, the bat had also made contact with the pads at the same time creating confusion.
Pant looked quite confident and felt he had not played the ball. The third umpire, however, gave his decision in New Zealand’s favour.
“I don’t think it was conclusive enough to overturn on-field not out decision. Feel for Rishabh Pant,” wrote Jaffer.
South Africa batting legend AB de Villiers also expressed his dissatisfaction with the third umpire’s call. He called for the usage of hotspot technology to overcome this sort of situation.
“The problem is when the ball passes the bat at 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 match. Where’s the hotspot,” De Villiers posted on X.
“The fact is there must’ve been doubt. Surely you stay with the on-field call, then? Unless the 3rd Umpire clearly saw a deviation? I’m not so sure. And don’t get me wrong, I have no bias here, just pushing for consistent calls and good use of tech,” AB de Villiers added.
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…— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 3, 2024
Pant’s wicket proved pivotal. He was the only batter for India to manage a 20-plus score.
His gritty efforts ultimately went in vain, with the hosts falling 25 runs short of the target.
With the victory in Mumbai, New Zealand completed a resounding 3-0 victory in the Test series.
