• AB de Villiers questioned the controversial dismissal of Rishabh Pant in India's third Test against New Zealand.

  • India fell short in the final Test, losing the match by 25 runs.

IND vs NZ: AB de Villiers comments on Rishabh Pant’s controversial dismissal in third Test
AB de Villiers comments on Rishabh Pant's controversial out (Image Source: X)

On Day 3 of the third Test match between India and New Zealand, Rishabh Pant‘s dismissal sparked significant controversy, drawing attention from South Africa cricket legend AB de Villiers. He voiced his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), questioning the decision💃 and the technology used in the game.

Rishabh Pant’s controversial wicket on Day 3 of third Test

Pant was dismissed in the 22nd over of India’s second innings, a pivotal moment as the team pursued a competitive target. Ajaz Patel bowled to Pant, who attempted to step down the pitch but was caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Patel and the New Zealand team erupted in a celebratory appeal, but the on-field umpire Richard Illingworth initially remained unmoved. New Zealand captain Tom Latham then called for a review, and UltraE🧸dge detecte♉d a faint noise as the ball passed Pant’s bat. However, it was unclear whether this noise resulted from the ball contacting the bat or the bat hitting Pant’s pad.

The third umpire, Paul Reiffel, reviewed multiple angles and eventually overturned the initial not-out decision, ruling Pant out. Despite his objections and visible disappointment, Paꦜnt had to accept the decision and depart from the field, concluding his innings on a high note with a brisk 64 off 57 balls, including 9 fours and a six.

Also READ: “I fully take responsibility of that as a captain and leader”: Rohit Sh𒅌arma on India’s embarrassing Test series whitewash against New Zealand

AB de Villiers weighs in on controversial call

Following the game, de Villiers took to X to express his thoughts on Pant’s dismissal, raising concerns about the decision-making process and the r﷽eliability of UltraEdge technology in such situations.

Controversy! Little grey area once again. Did Pant get bat on that or not? Problem is when the ball passes the bat at exactly the same time a batter hits his pad snicko will pick up the noise. But how sure are we he hit it? I’ve always worried about this and here it happens at a huge moment in a big Test match. Where’s hotspot?!” de Villiers captioned on X.

India falls short of the target

New Zealand set India a target of 147 in this final Test, but India struggled in their chase. Despite Pant’s aggressive knock, the team was bowled out for 121, falling short by 25 runs and conceding the series to New Zealand with a clean sweep of 3-0. Pant’s dismissal, occurring at a critical juncture, played a significant role in the match’s outcome, with fans and experts alike debating whether the decision was fair.

Also WATCH: A🍨jaz Patel’s spin outfoxes Shubman Gill on Day 3 of the third ꧑Test | IND vs NZ

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About the Author:
Siddhartha is a Content Strategist at Cricket Times, holding a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His passion for cricket was ignited by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. Alongside his dedication to cricket, Siddhartha is an accomplished state-level table tennis player. With a longstanding ambition to become a sports journalist, he brings both academic expertise and a deep enthusiasm for the sport to his role. His admiration for AB de Villiers underscores his commitment to excellence in cricket journalism. You can write to him at siddhartha@betvisa69.com and follow him on .