Hardik Pandya's bizarre dismissal was one of the talking points of the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Hyderabad on Wednesday (January 18).
During the 40th over of India’s innings, Hardik tried to defend the ball angling towards him. The ball, which passed very close to the stumps, was gathered by New Zealand skipper Tom Latham behind the stumps. In the process, however, one of the bails got dislodged and the decision was then referred to the third umpire.
Even though the TV replays clearly suggested that Latham had his gloves very close to the bails and the ball passed over the top of the stumps before being collected by the wicketkeeper, the third umpire ruled the decision in favour of the fielding side.
Amid the debate, India opener Shubman Gill said he has his doubts about the dismissal but added that it is important to respect the third umpire’s decision.
"As a non-striker batsman, I didn't think that the ball hit the stumps, even when I was watching the replay. Sometimes there's a blind spot -- you can't really tell what happened," Gill said at the post-match presser.
"I thought with the bail falling towards the crease, it's a bit weird if the ball is hitting like that and the bail falling towards the crease instead of the other side. These bails are different. It's a heavy bail and the stumps are a bit different. But, at the end of the day, you have to go with the third umpire and respect his decision," he added.
Coming to the opening ODI, India registered a 12-run victory over New Zealand in a high-scoring thriller.
Opting to bat first, the Men in Blue racked up a mammoth 349/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Gill starred with the bat, scoring 208 off 149 balls with 19 fours and 9 sixes.
In reply, the Kiwis were reeling at 131/6 and it seemed that the hosts will cruise towards victory. However, Michael Bracewell (140 off 78 balls) turned the game upside down with a blazing century.
In the end, Indian bowlers led by Mohammed Siraj (4-46) hold their nerves and bundled out the tourists for 337 in 49.2 overs.
(With TOI Inputs)
