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Pant would remain calm, but young Sarfaraz Khan, along with veteran Virat Kohli, would indulge in an animated appeal to skipper Rohit Sharma to persuade him to take a review.
Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli trying to persuade Rohit Sharma (X)
A little bit of persuasion goes a long way. It sure did for Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli. The duo’s animated plea to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to trust them and take a review to dismiss Will Young gifted Ashwin his second wicket of the innings against NZ during the second Test in Pune on Thursday.
NZ skipper Tom Latham won the favourable toss and elected to bat first.
After a seemingly controlled start, Latham himself fell victim to Ashwin’s wizardry with the ball, leaving opener Devon Conway and Will Young at the crease at 30/1.
The Kiwis though did not panic, but play through the period with composure, as Will Young took over the mantle to stabilise the NZ innings.
But, Ashwin would once again deliver, this time with a flat delivery which went brushing right down the leg side of Young, into the gloves of Rishabh Pant, for a healf-hearted appeal from the spinner.
Pant would remain calm, but young Sarfaraz Khan, along with veteran Virat Kohli, would indulge in an animated appeal to skipper Rohit Sharma to persuade him to take a review.
In a matter of fact manner, Sarfaraz would walk up to Rohit with exuberant confidence, patting himself on the chest, asking his skipper to trust his instincts which told him that the ball caught the gloves of Young ever-so-softly.
After a little while, before the timer could run out, Rohit would end up taking the review, which woiuld turn out in the favour of the Indians, as the ball would indeed brush off Young’s glove in the most feeble of manners, enough for him to be dismissed from the crease as NZ lost their second wicket.
The loss of Young though wouldn’t deter the Kiwis yet, as Conway would continue to play with ease, slashing and driving his way to a fine fifty, as New Zealand continue to march on, with Rachin Ravindra as well at the crease.
