New Delhi: Indian captain Rohit Sharma and New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell were involved in an on-field spat at the stroke of Lunch of the ongoing third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
India’s close-in fielders raised their vocal game to irritate Mitchell, who was unhappy with the chatter near him. The incident happened on the fourth ball of the 26th over when India brought more close-in fielders to ramp up the pressure on the Kiwi batter.
Pant’s chatter from behind the stumps and Sarfaraz Khan’s from silly point irked the New Zealander at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Indian fielders got under Mitchell’s skin and things reached a boiling point when Ravindra Jadeja was bowling at the stroke of Lunch. As Mitchell played a solid defensive stroke for no run, India’s close-in fielders, particularly Sarfaraz started troubling Mitchell with their fielding and vocal game.
MITCHELL COMPLAINS, ROHIT RESPONDS
#IndvNZ Sarfaraz Khan putting pressure…
Talking as Daryl Mitchell takes strike..
Daryl Mitchell complains to square leg umpire about this behaviour..
Rohit comes in and talks to mitchell..
Things heating up.. pic.twitter.com/KJqCs8Uzta
— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) November 1, 2024
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) November 1, 2024
The tension continued in the second session as Daryl Mitchell, unimpressed with Sarfaraz Khan’s constant chatter, from shot-leg at the time of batting. While sledging a batter to put psychological pressure on the batter is allowed, the batter has every right to complain to the umpire if the fielder is being vocal when the ball is about to be bowled.
The umpires had a chat with Sarfaraz Khan and captain Rohit Sharma following the ridiculous act.
Meanwhile, an unfazed Will Young completed his eighth half-century as the Kiwis cruised through the first hour of the second session unscathed. Young and Mitchell steadied the innings with a solid partnership, reviving the Kiwis, who slipped from 59 for 1 to 72 for 3 in the morning session courtesy of a superb bowling display by Washington Sundar.
Fresh from his 11-wicket match haul in Pune, Sundar cleaned up Kiwis skipper Tom Latham (28) and Rachin Ravindra (5) with two absolute corkers.
India edged the first session as Kiwis reached 92 for 3 at Lunch.
