The first ODI of the three-match series between the Indian cricket team and the New Zealand cricket team is currently happening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Hardik Pandya was adjudged out in a controversial manner by the third umpire during the Indian cricket team’s innings. Pandya’s wife Natasa Stankovic has now reacted to the decision.
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first in the first ODI against the New Zealand side. Sharma’s decision has proven to be a good one so far as the Men in Blue have posted 316/7 on the board in 47.4 overs so far. Opener Shubman Gill has completed his 150 and is inching closer to his 200-run mark.
Gill had a fifth-wicket partnership of 74 runs with the team’s vice-captain Hardik Pandya. After Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal, Hardik joined Gill in the middle and took the team’s total closer to 250.
Pandya took 37 balls for his 28 runs. On the 38th ball of his innings, Daryl Mitchell bowled a delivery on the stump line. The ball seemingly beat the bat and stumps on the way to the wicket-keeper. It looked like the bails came off the stumps due to Tom Latham, who was the wicket-keeper. However, the third umpire adjudged Hardik out.
Sharing the screenshots of the replay on Instagram, Hardik’s wife Natasa Stankovic wrote:
“There was no bat involved, wasn’t bowled out. So how’s this out?”
Natasa Stankovic reacts to Hardik Pandya's dismissal pic.twitter.com/r3OUMjLIfd
— Sports Lover (@vinay_cricket) January 18, 2023
Advertisement
Ravichandran Ashwin agrees with Natasa Stankovic that Hardik Pandya was not out
Star Indian all-rounder R Ashwin also felt that Pandya was not out. Taking to Twitter and giving an example of Gill’s cut shot, Ashwin wrote:
“Forget about split screens and replays, the cut shot from Shubhman Gill proved why Hardik was clearly Not Out.”
Forget about split screens and replays, the cut shot from Shubhman Gill proved why Hardik was clearly Not Out. #indvsnz
Advertisement— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 18, 2023
Fans are demanding an action to be taken against the third umpire if the decision was wrong. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
