Ravichandran Ashwin had an exciting session of play on day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand. He took the first New Zealand wicket to fall and since then troubled the well set Tom Latham and skipper Kane Williamson. At lunch, the Kiwis were 197/2 still trailing by 148 runs.

Meanwhile, during the first session of the day’s play, Ravichandran Ashwin had a few heated exchanges with umpire Nitin Menon. Ashwin was bowling across umpire Menon obstructing his view. Ashwin also had a decision denied against him by Menon that of Tom Latham who is now inching closer to a ton.

However, the tip-off between Ashwin and Menon was due to the former’s follow-through in his delivery stride. Ashwin bowled on a negative line and length and in the process went across the bowling crease almost touching his foot in the danger area of the pitch. He also was obstructing the non-striker from running across for a single.

With Ashwin making the ball spin sharply, he operated a different tactic, releasing the ball from closer to the stumps and running across the umpire and the batter at the non-striker’s end.

Ravichandran is currently bowling around the wicket to both Kane Williamson and Tom Lathan wherein Ashwin tends to come across the non striker standing on the other side. #INDvNZ #RavichandranAshwin #NitinMenon pic.twitter.com/87o6d15M1Z

— CricFit (@CricFit) November 27, 2021

Nitin Menon – if u go across I cannot see lbw.

Ashwin – u didn't see the last time anyway https://t.co/K8xnltBMtK

— ∆nkit🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) November 27, 2021

Just heard Ashwin arguing with Nitin Menon saying this is not fair. I have studied it and asked the match referee, not breaking any rules. #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/1GosPAS7gP

— Meha Bhardwaj Alter (@Bhardwajmeha) November 27, 2021

Nitin Menon robbed Aswin his 2nd wkt pic.twitter.com/LgYciRpVpm

— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) November 27, 2021

Ravichandran Ashwin Hoggs The Limelight In Kanpur

However, Nitin Memon was not pleased with Ashwin’s tactics and went to him and gave him a warning about the same. Seeing ASAhwin having none of his advice, he then decided to speak to Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane. A long animated and heated exchange took place between Ashwin and Menon, with captain Ajinkya Rahane getting summoned by the umpire and joining the discussion as well.

Nitin Menon is unnecessary hyped.. he s just another ordinary umpire https://t.co/90A8QRhI5S

— Vinay Kumar Dokania🇮🇳 (@VinayDokania) November 27, 2021

https://twitter.com/AbdullahNeaz/status/1464469891210121216?s=20

Amid the on-field tension, New Zealand lost their skipper Kane Williamson (18) as they headed into the lunch break. It came as a huge bonus for the Indians who had a tough day on the field so far.

---