For all the individual battles, cricket remains a team sport first, making the role of captain game changing — especially in the DRS era. Thursday in Pune was no different, and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma showed great leadership to take a leap of faith against New Zealand that paid dividends.
India were asked to field first on a slow and dry track at the Maharashtra Association Cricket Stadium on Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand and had to toil for eight overs before Ravichandran Ashwin provided them the first breakthrough in the form of the experienced Tom Latham. However, the Kiwis looked largely comfortable despite the ball turning square at times, as Devon Conway and Will Young patiently stitched together a partnership of 44 to seize momentum back from the hosts. The duo looked determined to take the team through to Lunch unscathed and would likely have done so, were it not for Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli teaming up to pressure Rohit Sharma into a sketchy review that ended up being a genius move.
Ravinchandran Ashwin was up against Young, batting on 18 off 44, in the 24th over and with his final effort he pitched the red cherry on a typical good length around leg stump that spun sharply and zipped through to Rishabh Pant’s gloves. Sarfaraz Khan at short leg immediately went up for an ectstatic appeal but neither the wicket-keeper nor the skipper at slip looked much interested while Ashwin only managed a half-hearted appeal himself while shooting a tentative look towards the umpire only to be rebuked. The veteran immediately walked over to his compatriots asserting he heard a sound as the ball passed Young and even though Pant and Rohit wore a wry disbelieving smile, Sarfaraz remained diffident before Kohli vigorously walked over to the captain to force him into the review.
The replays showed that the ball had infact tickled Young’s gloves enroute to Pant and the entire Men in Blue was in smiles upon seeing the replay, apart from Sarfaraz who retained a stoic expression knowing he had served his team the way it required.
Got it!
Team work
Goal – Ravi Ashwin ☝🏻🤩
Assist – Sarfaraz & Kohli 🤝🏻😌
📸: JioCinema/BCCI | #PlayBold #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/LWmZUmeu6p— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) October 24, 2024
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 at heart, sharp in mind! 🧠💥
Sarfaraz nails the review for the youngster. 🎯#SarfarazKhan #PunjabKings #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/wLrCyxRpXJ— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) October 24, 2024
True
Sarfaraz Khan was ready to put his Test career at stake for that DRS.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 24, 2024
Yup
Wicket has to be credited to Sarfaraz
That was such a tiny nick
Guy has managed to convince everyone single handedly for the review
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/3pe4coOMU6— Random Guy Here (@arandomguyposts) October 24, 2024
Sarfaraz dhoka nahi dega!
Top class. Ek number. 💪#INDvsNZ— Cricket addicted 🏏🇮🇳 (@VikashJ13660845) October 24, 2024
Fully convinced
“Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli were fully convinced it was out. Kudos to Sarfaraz for having such a great morning
Ash Anna literally on fire 🔥 #indvsnzl— Arpan Roy (@SportsArpan) October 24, 2024
Trust is important
Last time (I think against England) Rohit didn’t trust Sarfaraz over DRS. This time he did. Just as well.#INDvsNZ
— Cricket addicted 🏏🇮🇳 (@VikashJ13660845) October 24, 2024
ASHWIN STRIKES AGAIN….!!!! 🔥
Ashwin gets Will Young, terrific from Sarfaraz, asking Rohit to take the review. pic.twitter.com/P7HSemKpqp— Mintu Dutta (@duttamintu26) October 24, 2024
Kudos!!
Simon Doull said, “Sarfaraz Khan and Virat Kohli were fully convinced it was out. Kudos to Sarfaraz for having such a great morning”. pic.twitter.com/xIoT1OolGn
— CRICKET (@Islamic95024167) October 24, 2024
