India will continue with the Bangladesh Umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat as the third umpire for the final ODI between India and New Zealand. The BCCI has not made any move against the Bangladesh umpire despite the recent controversy in the U19 World Cup.
The recent controversies between India and Bangladesh have been fueled by the recent handshake controversy in the U19 World Cup clash between the two teams. India and Pakistan have started the trend of violating handshakes in the game, which has now taken over the Indo-Bangladesh conflict as well.
However, despite the recent move that occurred yesterday, the BCCI has not heightened the controversy any further and has rather decided to resolve things. The Indian team also shook hands with the opposition players after they won the group-stage game.
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BCCI continues with the Bangladesh Umpire for the 3rd ODI against New Zealand
Sharfuddoula Saikat is the first Umpire from Bangladesh to make it to the ICC Elite Panel of umpires, and he has been part of several high-profile contests like the Ashes and several crucial Test matches in the WTC on former occasions.
The ICC had clearly stated that the umpire does not need any permission from the BCB to continue to officiate matches in India during the India vs New Zealand tour, since he is contracted by the ICC and not under the BCB.
The BCCI has also continued to name him among match officials as they enter Indore for the final match of the ODI leg of the series. The match officials for today’s game include Bangladesh’s Sharfuddoula Saikat, who will continue to be the third umpire. Anantha Padmanabhan and Richard Illingworth are on-field officials. Rohan Pandit is the 4th Umpire, and the Match referee is Javagal Srinath.
Breaking: Indore ODI umpires: Bangladesh’s Sarfudollah Saikat will continue to be the third umpire. Anatha Padamnabhan and Richard Illingworth are onfield officials. Rohan Pandit 4th Umpire
Match referee: Javagal Shrinath. #IndvsNZ #3rdODI— Vijay Tagore (@vijaymirror) January 18, 2026
India brings Arshdeep Singh on board for the NZ series decider
Indian management has repeatedly been criticized for its selection of Prasidh Krishna despite the poor economy that has troubled him in the 50-over format. Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has not only been economical but has also picked crucial wickets whenever the Men in Blue have needed him to.
Arshdeep Singh might just not be the fastest among the Indian pacers, but the way he uses his rhythm to put pressure on the batters makes him lethal in the attack. However, he was not picked in the first two ODIs, as Mohammad Siraj made a comeback to the ODI squad for India.
Ahead of the final match against New Zealand in Indore, where the pitch is already flat and a paradise for batters, the Indian paceman has returned to feature for India in the Playing XI.
Arshdeep Singh strikes in his first over on ODI return
Arshdeep Singh picked up a wicket straightaway as he returned to feature for India. As he picked Henry Nicholls’ wicket in the first over, he has also been very economical in the powerplay, despite the pitch being called a batting paradise in India.
Singh, after the wicket, strengthened his rhythm as he moved it to both sides, beat the outside edge of Mitchell’s bat on several occasions and bowled a maiden in his second over. His accuracy and lateral movement have constantly troubled even the batter with the highest average in the series.
Before today, Daryll Mitchell had scored 200+ runs in the series and had averaged over 200; however, he took 10+ balls to score his first boundary in the game. Such has been the pressure applied.
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