Controversy erupted on the third day of the final test match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede. India were tasked with chasing down 147 to save themselves from a rare embarrassing series sweep. The chips were down and India immediately found itself in trouble waters when they were reduced to 29-5 inside 10 overs. 

But Rishab Pant was the only Indian batter to throw the punches back at the New Zealand bowlers. The flamboyant wicket-keeper batter was in the mood to attack right from the word go and was more than ready to use his feet and deploy a wide range of sweeps against the spinning ball.

As all the batters failed to apply themselves on a tricky Wankhede pitch, Pant seemed far more resolute than the others and scored at an alarmingly high strike rate of over 100 to keep India in the run chase. But the moment he was removed by Ajaz Patel during the 22nd over, India’s hopes of winning the match quickly dissipated and the home side agonizingly fell short by 25 runs.  

Here is how the drama around his dismissal unfolded 

Pant resumed the second session after lunch on a very assuring note for India. He was going great guns and was batting beautifully on 64. Pant was riding his luck thus far and India were well on course for a consolation win. But the 27-year-old soon ran out of luck when Ajaz came on to bowl the 22nd over of the run chase.

After smacking Ajaz for a few boundaries in that over, Pant decided to use his feet during the fourth ball of the over. It was a generously tossed-up delivery that turned fractionally after pitching. Pant steps out of his crease to make contact with the ball but the ball balloons up in the air after hitting the pads and Blundell pouches it at short leg. At first glance, it appeared that Pant had not made any contact with the ball.

Desperate to turn the tide in their favor, Latham decided to go for the review. The replay revealed a notable spike on the UltraEdge when the bat made contact with Pant's pad; however, a similar spike was observed when the ball approached the bat. But after the ball had passed the inside edge of his bat, an obvious delection was seen before the ball made contact with his pad. At that very moment, Pant immidiately approached the umpires and indicated to them that there was no bat involvement. The on-field umpires were in no mood to buy into his explanation and when the decisive moment came, umpire Illingworth reversed his "not out" decision to "out" as per the recommendation from the TV umpire. Pant stood his ground helplessly at first but reluctantly began walking towards the dressing room.

The decision came under severe criticism by the fans and the leading cricket experts. After the game, Rohit Sharma expressed solidarity with Pant and believed that the TV umpire made a glaring error in giving Pant out. In addition, retired South African batting star Ab de Villiers also came in support of Pant and questioned the TV umpire's  controversial out decision.

As we speak, the third test between India and New Zealand is on a knife edge, with the home side in dire straits. In their pursuit of 147, India made a disastrous start to the run chase and lost their top order in no time with 29 on the board. Pant is the only batter who is now holding the Indian innings together by a thread. He is currently unbeaten on 53* and his side hopes that he stays till the end to help India avoid an embarrassing series whitewash at home. 

Here is how the drama unfolded on day three

New Zealand could only manage to add three more runs to their overnight total of 171-9 before being dismissed on 174 courtesy of Jadeja’s final wicket. This meant that India was required to chase down a target of 147, which by no means was a challenging ask. But with the pitch turning square, very few could anticipate the carnage that was to come in the Indian innings. 

Rohit Sharma kicked off the run chase with a few boundaries but he turned out to be the first Indian victim to fall and was removed by Henry during the third over. That wicket triggered a procession of wickets for team India as they went from 13-1 to 29-5 in virtually a blink of an eye. The spin duo of Ajaz and Phillips took over and accounted for the bulk of the damage. 

The Indian batters struggled against the spinning ball and failed to pick the natural variations which ultimately proved to be their downfall. Ajaz Patel once again proved to be a potent threat for the home side claiming figures of 4-43 while Phillips also managed to bag an all-important wicket of Jaiswal on five. Ajaz ran through the defenses of Gill, Kohli, Jadeja, and Sarfarz. Rohit and Pant are the only two batters to register double-figure scores. 

Apart from quality spin bowling, the shot selection of some of our batters were also questionable. Gill opting to leave a straighter ball and Sarafaz holing out to Ravindra at deep square leg to a full toss were some of the brain-fade moments our batters faced in the middle.

Pant shines with the bat and keeps India afloat 

In the face of an acute adversary, one man defied all odds. The flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman Rishab Pant played with a lot of purpose to give India a fighting chance of earning a consolidation win. On a deteriorating Wankhede pitch, Pant played some swashbuckling shots to entertain the home crowd. The 27-year-old did not hesitate to use his feet against the tossed-up deliveries and deployed his sweep shots precisely on numerous instances at a time when batters have largely struggled to get their feet moving. 

He teamed up with Jadeja to help India stitch a valuable 42 runs for the sixth wicket to get India close to the target. Unfortunately, the partnership was broken by Ajaz who once again came on top to have Jadeja caught at short leg. But Pant remained resolute and has raced to 53 in only 50 balls.

At the time of writing, the game was set up nicely at lunch on day three with India at 92-6 still requiring 55 more runs to avoid a rare clean sweep at home. Pant is a ray of hope for the Men In Blue who have their backs placed firmly on the wall. He will have to grind harder for the next few overs to see India home by the end of the second session.

Ajaz Patel once again starred for New Zealand in the third and final Test of the three-match series by claiming superb figures of 5-103 to restrict India to 263. The 36-year-old got to the milestone by removing Ashwin on the last ball of the 58th over when he had him caught by Daryl Mitchell in the first slip. 

Ajaz has a special bond with the city of Mumbai. Known to be his birthplace, Ajaz had previously performed well at the Wankhede. The left-arm spinner recorded his career-best 10-wicket haul in the second match of the 2021 Test series against India where he claimed all 10 wickets to equal Anil Kumble & Jim Laker’s record. Unfortunately, New Zealand went on to lose that Test match by a whopping 372 runs.

A short summary of his performance in the ongoing third Test

This is Ajaz Patel’s sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. All six of them have come on Asian soil including two apiece in India & Sri Lanka and one each in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The crafty left-arm spinner enjoys bowling in the Indian subcontinent and thrives in these helpful conditions. India has been a happy hunting ground for him since as many as 26 out of 79 Test wickets in Asia have registered on Indian soil. Surprisingly, the Mumbai-born spinner has never picked up a wicket on his home turf in New Zealand. 

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Speaking of his performance in the third Test, Ajaz managed to pick up five wickets at the expense of 103 runs while going at a little over 4.5 RPO. Jaiswal, Siraj, Gill, Sarfaraz, and Ashwin were among his five victims. In his nearly 22 overs long spell, the 34-year-old bowled three maidens and got the ball to bite off the surface on regular occasions. His double-wicket over late in the day on day one swung the momentum of the game dramatically in favor of the visitors.  

At the time of writing, the game was nicely set up for the two sides as, despite Ajaz’s heroics with the ball, India were able to eke out a crucial lead of 28 runs.

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season unfolds, Mumbai Indians find themselves in familiar territory – grappling with a slow start under the leadership of newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya. The transition from Rohit Sharma to Hardik as captain has stirred discontent among fans, adding an intriguing layer of drama to Mumbai Indians’ campaign.

Mumbai Indians’ Struggles under Hardik Pandya’s Leadership

Despite the turmoil surrounding the captaincy saga, Mumbai Indians remain determined to turn their fortunes around in the IPL 2024 season. With two consecutive losses placing them at the bottom of the points table, the team is poised to harness the energy of their home crowd and secure a much-needed victory against Rajasthan Royals.

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Fan Backlash against Hardik Pandya

The discontent among fans has manifested in vocal protests and instances of booing directed towards Hardik Pandya. The vicious reception from supporters has highlighted the challenges faced by the all-rounder in assuming the mantle of captaincy amidst heightened expectations.

Mumbai Indians’ Homecoming

Amidst the backdrop of fan discontent, Mumbai Indians prepare to play their first home game of the season at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The match against Rajasthan Royals carries added significance as Mumbai seeks to appease their supporters and reclaim lost ground in the IPL standings.

Hardik Pandya: The New Skipper

Hardik Pandya’s journey to captaincy began with a sensational switch from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians, marking his return to the franchise where he started his IPL career. However, his appointment as captain has been met with skepticism and hostility from fans, who remain loyal to Rohit Sharma.

As the IPL 2024 season unfolds, the clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium promises to be an enthralling spectacle. Amidst the anticipation, several compelling storylines emerge, shaping the narrative of this highly anticipated encounter.

Hardik Pandya: The New Skipper

With the spotlight firmly on him, Hardik Pandya finds himself in a dual role – both as captain and player for the Mumbai Indians. The burden of leadership, coupled with the expectation of delivering stellar performances, places immense pressure on Pandya, especially amidst Mumbai Indians’ recent struggles in the tournament.

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Fan Backlash against Mumbai Indians

The decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain with Hardik Pandya has sparked considerable backlash from Mumbai Indians’ loyal fan base. The removal of Sharma, a revered figure in the franchise’s history, has incited frustration and disappointment among supporters, leading to vocal protests and even instances of abuse directed towards Pandya.

Fans at Wankhede Stadium have raised a new outcry, alleging that stadium officials are prohibiting the display of Rohit Sharma’s posters within the venue. This latest development has sparked fury among fans, who view it as a deliberate attempt to sideline the former Mumbai Indians captain. The decision has not only incensed the fans but has also drawn ire towards both the stadium officials and the Mumbai Indians franchise.

The ban on Rohit Sharma’s posters represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the fans, the franchise, and the authorities. It highlights the deep-seated sentiments and loyalty that fans harbor towards their beloved players, especially someone as iconic as Rohit Sharma.

Mumbai Indians’ Desperation for Victory

For Mumbai Indians, the upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals holds significant ramifications. A third consecutive loss would not only deepen their woes but also intensify scrutiny over Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and the franchise’s decision-making process. With their pride and reputation on the line, Mumbai Indians are desperate for a turnaround in fortunes.

Rajasthan Royals’ Performance in IPL 2024

In contrast, Rajasthan Royals enter the match on a positive trajectory, buoyed by consecutive home victories. However, their true test lies in securing an elusive away win, a feat that will be crucial in asserting their dominance beyond their home turf.

Sachin Tendulkar, an acclaimed cricketing legend, known as one of the sport’s greatest batsmen, is soon to receive a monumental honor at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. A 22-foot statue of the cricket icon will be unveiled on November 1, coinciding with the India-Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match.

Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to Attend

Tendulkar, boasting an illustrious career with records like 15,821 Test runs and 18,426 ODI runs, will grace the unveiling ceremony. Distinguished figures, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will attend as the chief guest and guest of honor. Prominent representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will also be in attendance.

The statue, portraying a 50-year-old Tendulkar delivering a straight-six off Australian legend Shane Warne, was crafted by the renowned painter-sculptor Pramod Kale. This grand tribute to the cricketing icon aims to inspire future generations of cricketers and carry forward Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy in Mumbai Cricket.

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Wankhede Stadium holds a special place in Tendulkar’s heart, serving as the venue for his emotional farewell in November 2013 during his 200th and final Test match. Tendulkar’s deep-rooted connection with Mumbai, where he was born and raised and developed his cricketing skills under the late Ramakant Achrekar’s guidance, makes this honor all the more significant.

This life-size statue is a befitting tribute to a cricketing legend whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the sport, destined to inspire aspiring cricketers and fans worldwide. Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable journey in the realm of cricket has been a beacon of inspiration for millions, and this statue at Wankhede Stadium symbolizes the celebration of his enduring legacy and extraordinary career in the sport.

A life-size statue of the living legend Sachin Tendulkar is set to be installed at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It will be a gesture by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to pay homage to the local boy who went on to conquer the world with his batting skills.

“It will be the first statue in Wankhede Stadium, we will decide where it will be placed,” Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Amol Kale told The Indian Express.

“He (Tendulkar) is a Bharat Ratna and everyone knows what he has done for cricket. As he turns 50, it will be a small token of appreciation from the MCA. I spoke to him three weeks ago and his consent was received,” Kale said.

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Sachin Tendulkar statue to be unveiled on April 23

Although it is still to clear in which are of the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where Tendulkar played his last international match, will be placed; the officials have targeted April 23 as the day for the statue to be unveiled. April 23 will mark Tendulkar’s 50th birthday.

The batting maestro, incidentally, already has a stand named after him at the Wankhede. Apart from him, the MCA had honoured the former India captain Sunil Gavaskar with a corporate box and batting ace Dilip Vengsarkar with a stand. However, Former India great C K Nayudu is among the few Indian cricketers to have a life-size statue in the country.

Tendulkar recorded most hundreds (100) and runs (34,357) in his illustrious career.