IND vs NZ: Ravi Ashwin kicks turf in frustration as India misses DRS call to dismiss Tom Latham

New Zealand openers gave Team India some tough time in the ongoing first Test match at the Green Park in Kanpur. Replying to India’s first-innings score of 345, Tom Latham and Will Young showcased remarkable resilience and added 151 runs for the first wicket. While Will Young scored 89 runs, Latham fell prey to Axar Patel after slamming 95 runs on a challenging track.

Notably, Latham’s outing could have been ended earlier, had India not missed an important review. The southpaw was batting on 66 when he was foxed by Ravichandran Ashwin’s delivery. It was a full-length ball that turned away from the southpaw after hitting the pitch. Latham missed the ball completely and Indian fielders made a strong appeal for LBW.

Ravichandran Ashwin frustrated as Tom Latham gets away with LBW call

However, the on-field umpire didn’t give the decision in the home team’s favour. What was even more surprising is the fact that Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane didn’t go for a review. The call proved to be a blunder as the replay showed the ball would have gone to hit the middle stump. With the replay being played in the big screen, several Indian players would have felt gutted.

Ravichandran Ashwin was evidently frustrated as he kicked the turf in anger. Rahane also had a grimace on his face when big screens showed the replay. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull were in the commentary box when this transpired. “India missed a trick. They should have gone for the review. Even if it was umpire’s call, they would have retained the review,” Gavaskar said during commentary.

Latham out LBW at 66, given not out, review not taken by India.
Are the matches going to get decided on the basis of a team’s judgment to take (or not to) DRS? pic.twitter.com/WzDoWrTQri

— Bhupesh Juneja (@BhupeshJuneja1) November 27, 2021

Meanwhile, umpiring hasn’t been of the highest standards in this game. Latham, before surviving this call, was adjudged out as many as three times by the on-field umpires in the innings. However, he went for review and the decision was overturned. Ironically, the umpire didn’t raise his finger when Latham could really have been out.

The southpaw looked all set to reach the three-figure mark as well. However, Axar Patel dismissed him for 95 to bring his side back in the hunt. Meanwhile, the Kiwis crossed the 250-run mark with four wickets in hand. Hence, it would be interesting to see how the remaining contest pans out.