Rohit Sharma’s Umpire Argument and Rain Drama

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

India captain Rohit Sharma was seen arguing with umpire Michael Gough on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He urged the umpire not to halt play due to complaints of bad light. Later, heavy rain interrupted the match, adding drama to India’s defense.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

On Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Indian captain Rohit Sharma was engaged in a heated discussion with on-field umpire Michael Gough. Sharma urged the umpire not to halt play due to complaints about bad light, as India was eager to make early breakthroughs in New Zealand’s 107-run chase. Virat Kohli also joined in the debate, trying to convince the officials to allow play to continue.

However, the umpires deemed the conditions unsafe, with thick clouds and poor visibility, even with the floodlights on. The light meter was brought out, and the officials stood firm on their decision. Frustration was evident on the faces of the Indian players as they saw their momentum interrupted. Just moments later, rain clouds began to move in, and the grounds crew quickly covered the pitch in anticipation of further delays.

Earlier, India had been bowled out for a shocking 46 in their first innings. They showed resilience in the second innings, thanks to Sarfaraz Khan’s impressive 150-run knock and Rishabh Pant’s dazzling 99. However, after tea, India’s final four wickets fell in quick succession, ending their innings at 99.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj were dismissed quickly, leaving India with a target to defend in less-than-ideal conditions.

As Day 4 came to a premature close, India faced the challenge of defending 107 runs on the final day, with looming weather conditions raising concerns. New Zealand, meanwhile, hoped for more rain and bad light to delay India’s bowling attack as they aimed to chase down the modest target for a 1-0 lead in the series.