Rohit Sharma intervenes as Sarfaraz's antics riles up Mitchell, umpire warns players

India vs New Zealand, Mumbai Test: Rohit Sharma exchanged words with umpires when New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell grew visibly frustrated with Sarfaraz Khan's murmuring from his forward short-leg position.

In Short

• Rohit Sharma defends Sarfaraz after an umpire warning
• Mitchell complains about Sarfaraz's distracting chatter
• Indian bowlers strike early with key wickets on Day 1

India captain Rohit Sharma was seen having an animated chat with umpire Richard Illingworth after the official issued a stern warning to India's Sarfaraz Khan after his on-field chatter appeared to unsettle New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell. Positioned at his usual close-in spot near the bat, Sarfaraz was vocal throughout Mitchell’s innings, which drew the Kiwi batter’s ire and led him to voice his concerns.

The incident occurred shortly before the start of the 32nd over on the first day. As Mitchell’s frustration grew evident, umpire Illingworth summoned both Rohit and Sarfaraz for a conversation, giving a serious warning against further disruptions. Virat Kohli joined his teammates during the discussion, as Rohit animatedly defended Sarfaraz’s actions. Commentators noted that Mitchell may have raised the issue with the umpire, indicating that Sarfaraz’s constant chatter was distracting him at the crease.

IND vs NZ, 3rd Test Day 1 Live

The Indian skipper’s intervention came just before a wave of miscommunication saw India concede five extra runs through overthrows. Following the confrontation, Ravindra Jadeja delivered a flighted ball that hit Mitchell on the pads, prompting a loud LBW appeal from the Indian side. Mitchell took the opportunity to sprint for a quick single, and a throw from Akash Deep narrowly missed the stumps. However, the ball ricocheted past the infield, racing to the boundary and gifting New Zealand a total of five bonus runs.

Despite the heated exchange, India’s bowlers remained focused and struck crucial blows in the opening session. Akash Deep took the first wicket, trapping Devon Conway lbw, while Washington Sundar claimed the other two key dismissals. Sundar sent both New Zealand skipper Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra back to the pavilion, with accurate deliveries that crashed into the stumps. However, India struggled to continue their momentum post-lunch as New Zealand settled into a steady rhythm.

India, trailing 0-2 in the series, is determined to salvage a victory at the Wankhede Stadium and avoid a rare home-series whitewash. The Kiwis have already secured the series, winning the first Test by eight wickets in Bengaluru and the second by 113 runs in Pune.