India is battling to prevent a series whitewash at home and to strengthen its path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final in the last Test against New Zealand. At the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, emotions ran high when Rohit Sharma stepped in to defend young player Sarfaraz Khan after a sledging incident caused friction on the field.
New Zealand, once again looking solid, gained control of the game as Daryl Mitchell and Will Young held steady at the crease. With the Indian bowlers struggling to make an impact, Sarfaraz Khan began stirring things up, cheering on his teammates and using some choice words to distract the New Zealand batters. However, Mitchell seemed to reach his limit and took the matter up with the umpire, complaining that Sarfaraz’s actions were affecting his concentration.
The umpires moved to have a word with Sarfaraz, but Rohit quickly joined the conversation, backing his young teammate and discussing the situation with the officials. There are no strict rules against sledging, but Mitchell’s issue was with the timing of Sarfaraz’s comments, which he felt were inappropriate as the bowler was delivering the ball. The umpires ultimately warned Sarfaraz to dial back his approach and allowed the game to continue.
Meanwhile, India’s bowlers continued to face a challenge. Washington Sundar provided a spark with two key dismissals, clean-bowling New Zealand captain Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra with deliveries that clipped the off-stump. These wickets lifted Indian spirits momentarily, but New Zealand’s Will Young persisted, frustrating the Indian attack by adding runs patiently.
India remains in a tense position, hoping to break through New Zealand’s defenses as the visitors aim to further extend their control. The crowd at Wankhede is watching intently, understanding the significance of each ball as the home team fights to avoid a rare series loss and preserve its reputation on Indian soil.