A shocking and worrying moment unfolded during the fifth T20I of IND vs SA when on-field umpire Rohan Pandit was struck by a fierce shot from Sanju Samson, forcing a brief stoppage in play. The incident happened in the ninth over of India’s innings and left everyone on the field concerned.
The moment came on ball 8.4, bowled by South Africa’s Donovan Ferreira. Samson, batting fluently, stepped back and smashed a full delivery straight down the ground with immense power. Ferreira tried to grab the return catch, but the ball burst through his hands and sharply deflected towards the umpire standing behind him. The ball hit Rohan Pandit on the knee, leaving him visibly hurt.
Pandit immediately moved away from his position before going down on the field as the ball rolled towards long-on. Medical staff rushed in to attend to the umpire, while players from both teams checked on his condition. Play was halted briefly, but after receiving treatment and some magic spray, Pandit managed to continue despite the pain evident on his face.
India had made full use of the Powerplay, racing to 67 runs in the first six overs. South Africa rotated their bowlers but struggled to slow the scoring, with Corbin Bosch picking up the only wicket till then. Coming into the match, India were already leading the five-match series 2-1 and looked keen to extend their advantage. However, the umpire’s injury soon became the biggest talking point of the evening.
What happened to the cameraman during IND vs SA match? Explained
The scare didn’t end there, as another injury incident followed later in the IND vs SA match. A cameraman suffered an injury scare after being struck by a powerful six hit by Hardik Pandya.
The incident occurred when Hardik stepped out to Corbin Bosch and smashed a flat, lofted drive over mid-off for six. The ball travelled at high speed and struck a cameraman flush on the left arm, just below the shoulder. At the time, the cameraman was focused on the Indian dugout and did not see the ball coming.
Medical staff and physios quickly attended to him and applied an ice pack to the affected area. Visuals showed the spot turning red after the impact. Play resumed after the brief delay, while the cameraman remained under observation.
The back-to-back incidents highlighted the risks faced by umpires and broadcast crews during high-intensity international matches, especially with powerful hitters in full flow.
Hardik Pandya’s 16-Ball Fifty Stuns South Africa in 5th IND vs SA T20I
Hardik Pandya went into beast mode during the fifth T20I of IND vs SA on Friday, producing a breathtaking knock in Ahmedabad. The 32-year-old batted on a completely different level, attacking from the very first ball and continuing his impressive run with the bat.
Hardik walked out to bat in the 13th over after captain Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed, and the Ahmedabad crowd erupted in cheers. He announced his intent immediately, starting his innings with a six and never looking back. In his first seven deliveries, Pandya smashed three fours and three sixes, completely dismantling the South African bowling attack.
The all-rounder brought up his half-century in just 16 balls, drawing a standing ovation from the home crowd. This knock became the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is, with only Yuvraj Singh’s legendary 12-ball fifty from the 2007 World Cup ahead of it. Yuvraj’s innings had famously included six sixes in an over in Durban.
Pandya’s fireworks eventually came to an end when he was dismissed for 63 off just 25 balls. Before that, he stitched together a blistering partnership with Tilak Varma, with the duo adding 105 runs in just 44 balls.
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