Tensions flared during the first session of the opening day of the final Test between India and New Zealand, as Daryl Mitchell and Rohit Sharma I had a passionate chat during the final before lunch. The issue appeared to arise after Mitchell expressed displeasure with Sarfaraz Khan apparently muttering from under the helmet in the short-legged forward position. This followed Rohit Sharma walking towards Mitchell near the microphone and having a serious argument with the batsman.

The play stopped momentarily as the duo exchanged words, with the crowd applauding loudly behind the Indian captain. However, things calmed down without the need for intervention from any of the on-field referees. The drama, however, was far from over as just two deliveries later, India conceded five runs through wickets in a glaring miscommunication.

Ravindra Jadeja sent a flying delivery, sliding it towards Mitchell’s pads. The ball hit Mitchell on the pads, prompting a thunderous LBW appeal from the Indian fielders. As the appeal intensified, Mitchell, seeing an opportunity, pounced for a quick single.

Amidst the confusion, Akash Deep launched a shot aiming to trap Mitchell outside his area.

But the turn did not end there. Mitchell managed to land his bat just in time, beating the shot by a fraction, but the ball bounced off the pitch, rolled past the infield and raced towards the boundary. In the blink of an eye, what had started as a strong appeal turned into a four-run gift for New Zealand.

The Indian team, after a brief moment of consideration, wisely opted not to review as replays confirmed that Mitchell had built up a huge inside lead.

New Zealand opted to bat

The Kiwis batted first after winning the toss at the Wankhede Stadium, but India made early inroads as the hosts picked three wickets in the first session. Washington Sundar, who was India’s rare positive in the previous Test, was back on song, picking two of the three.

The Kiwis have already clinched the series, registering a dominant 8-wicket win in the first Test in Bengaluru before defeating India by 113 runs in Pune. India will now look to avoid a rare series defeat at home.