[Watch] Ajaz Patel dismisses Sarfaraz Khan for a duck in IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel dismissed Sarfaraz Khan for a four-ball duck on Day 2 (Saturday, November 2) of the third and final Test against India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With the wicket, the visitors left India in a spot of bother at 204/7.

The dismissal came in the 48th over of India’s first innings. Ajaz bowled a length ball and Sarfaraz went for a forward defensive shot but was nowhere near the pitch of the ball. The ball turned and bounced to kiss the gloves on its way to the wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

Sarfaraz Khan has failed to score big in the Test series against the Kiwis, barring his 150 in the second innings of the first Test. His other scores read 0, 11, 9, and 0 (today).

“Poor call by India” – Sanjay Manjrekar slams management for sending Sarfaraz Khan at No. 8 in IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed team management for dropping Sarfaraz Khan to No. 8 in the batting order. The reaction came as Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were promoted ahead of Sarfaraz. The cricketer-turned-commentator wrote on X:

“A guy in form, has 3 fifties in his first 3 Tests, gets 150 in the Bangalore Test, a good player of spin, pushed back in the order to keep left & right combination?? Makes no sense. Sarfaraz now walking in at no 8! Poor call by India.”

Sarfaraz had scored 150 at No. 4 against the Blackcaps in the first Test. The 27-year-old had slammed back-to-back fifties on his Test debut against England at No. 6 earlier this year.

As far as the ongoing match is concerned, the visitors put up 235 in the first innings. Daryl Mitchell and Will Young chipped in with 82 (129) and 71 (138), respectively. Ravindra Jadeja bagged a five-wicket haul, while Washington Sundar picked up four.

At the time of writing, the hosts were 227/7, with Shubman Gill (90 off 144) and Washington Sundar (8 off 11) at the crease. Ajaz Patel has been the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, picking up three wickets so far.

The Tom Latham-led side have already taken a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series.

Follow the IND vs NZ 3rd Test live score and updates here.