Sarfaraz Khan's Animated Reaction as Washington Sundar Strikes in Mumbai Test
Following the dismissal of Ravindra, who fell victim to another beautiful delivery, Sarfaraz, fielding at short leg, celebrated exuberantly, getting right in Ravindra's face. While Sundar was undoubtedly entitled to celebrate his achievements, Sarfaraz's animated send-off raised eyebrows and sparked conversations about sportsmanship on the field.
In an eventful day of cricket during the third Test match between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Washington Sundar showcased his remarkable bowling skills, taking two key wickets with stunning deliveries that left the opposition reeling. However, it was Sarfaraz Khan's animated behavior following one of those dismissals that drew attention.
Sundar, fresh off a remarkable performance in the previous Test in Pune, continued his fine form by dismissing both Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra with identical deliveries that baffled the New Zealand batsmen. Coming around the wicket, Sundar delivered two dream balls that clean bowled the in-form batters, expertly exploiting their defenses. Latham, in his attempt to defend, was beaten as the ball pitched just outside off and crashed into the stumps, setting the tone for Sundar's impressive outing.
Following the dismissal of Ravindra, who fell victim to another beautiful delivery, Sarfaraz, fielding at short leg, celebrated exuberantly, getting right in Ravindra's face. While Sundar was undoubtedly entitled to celebrate his achievements, Sarfaraz's animated send-off raised eyebrows and sparked conversations about sportsmanship on the field. His behavior wasn't limited to just this moment; later, Sarfaraz's constant chatter reportedly annoyed Daryl Mitchell, prompting intervention from captain Rohit Sharma.
As the match progressed, India appeared to have the upper hand, reducing New Zealand to 92 for 3 after Latham chose to bat first. Akash Deep's early wicket of Devon Conway set the stage for Sundar's exploits, as he quickly followed up with two crucial breakthroughs. With the pitch showing signs of spin, the Indian bowling attack, led by Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin, made it difficult for New Zealand to settle.
India made one notable change to their lineup, bringing in Mohammed Siraj for Jasprit Bumrah, who was unwell. The BCCI confirmed Bumrah's absence was due to a viral illness, impacting India's pace attack as they sought to avoid a 0-3 series defeat, a result that would mark their first home series clean sweep since 2000.
As the Test unfolds, all eyes will be on how the Indian batsmen respond and whether they can leverage their strong bowling performance to clinch a much-needed victory against a determined New Zealand side.
