Indian star Hardik Pandya’s wife Natasa Stankovic’s reaction to the harsh dismissal against New Zealand is making waves on the internet.
For the unconverted, the Indian vice-kappa was given. It emerges in controversial circumstances. The first ODI in Hyderabad led to heavy criticism of the umpire on social media.
Hardik Pandya bowled New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell to the home team’s 40th innings in a dramatic incident. But the 29-year-old cricketer missed his stroke and the ball went into the glove of Tom Latham who kept the visitors out. As the ball went over the wickets, the bails fell and the Kiwis appealed for the bowlers to be dismissed.
Will Hardik Pandya leave? Uncertain, the on-field umpires asked a third umpire to make a decision. KN Ananthapadmanabhan then watched several replays before announcing that India had bowled out. Shots from various angles seem to suggest that it was Tom Lathan who removed the bail.
As soon as the decision was shown on the big screen, a shocked Hardik Pandya returned to the pavilion.
The decision prompted Natasa Stankovic to take to Instagram to share her reaction to the matter.
Natasa Stankovic said, “Bats are not involved.” No cup. So how did it happen?”
Soon after, The Serbian dancer/model’s post went viral on the popular video and photo sharing platform.
Apart from Natasa Stankovic, former cricketers and Indian cricket fans were shocked after the umpire’s decision.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was in the commentary box at the time, reckoned that the Indian batsman was “not out”. “Oh, it’s delivered! Daryl Mitchell should be happy,” Shastri said on live TV.
“What’s really fun is where the keeper’s glove is, if you look back to where the ball went through the stumps, the ball is at least an inch, an inch and a half, -half the stumps… the ball looks like it’s above the bails. You can see it go into the glove, no red light, you can only see it later. There you go. From that angle, you can see the gloves are closer to protection than the ball,” he added.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also felt that umpire Hardik Pandya was done for unfairly calling the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team.
“Forget split screens and replays, a cut shot by Shubhman Gill proved why Hardik didn’t get out decisively,” Ravichandran Ashwin wrote on Twitter.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Wasim Jaffer shared similar views and said, “Hardik did a heist there.”
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, who was at the non-striker’s end when the incident occurred, also thought that Hardik Pandya was not out.
“As a non-striker, even watching the rebound, I didn’t think the ball hit the stumps. Sometimes there are blind spots – you can’t really tell what happened. “I think the insurance is a bit strange if the ball goes down towards the crease,” said Shubman Gill in the post-match press conference.
“These insurances are different. Bail and stumps are a little different. But in the end we have to go with the third umpire and respect his decision,” he said.
Returning to the game, India posted a total of 349/5 on the board in their allotted 50 overs. Shubman Gill’s blistering double finally allowed them to get out for 208 off 149 balls.
If Gill is India’s batting hero. New Zealand’s response was led by equaliser, Michael Bracewell, who was equally as aggressive against Mohammed Shami and company.
at 110/5; The Black Caps looked on the outside but the whole face of the game quickly changed once Michael Bracewell reached the crease.
Michael Bracewell brought up his hundred in 57 balls, with boundaries and sixes throughout his knock. He then took the Kiwis very close to victory with the 20 runs needed to win the final over.
He then hit the first ball of the 50th for a six over the left side. But his dream of getting past New Zealand did not materialize as Shardul Thakur dismissed him LBW and the Tom Latham-led side gave India a narrow 12-run victory.
After India escaped and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, Shubman Gill revealed that Ishan Kishan is one of his closest friends in the dressing room.
“He (Kishan) is one of my best mates. I was there when he scored his ODI double hundred and it was special. When you want to do something, it feels good and that’s normal. It was definitely a pleasure. (two tons) has sunk. The game was much closer than I expected,” said Shubman Gill.
“He (Kishan) ruined my entire pre-game routine because he didn’t let me sleep. He watched movies with full sound without using headphones. Isko main gaali deke bolta hu bhai awaz kam kar le ya headphones laga le. Par ye bolta hai ‘tu mere room mein so raha hai. Meri marzi se chalega. har roz ladai hoti hai. (I abuse him and ask him to turn off the loudspeaker, but it’s his room and it’s going to be by the rules. I fight with him every day). This is my preliminary match,” he said.
