India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant found himself in another lively stump mic exchange with Bangladesh’s Litton Das on Day 1 of the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Walking in to bat with India struggling at 34/3, Pant joined Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease after Hasan Mahmud dismantled the top order.
Pant, known for his aggressive style, started positively, hitting a couple of boundaries within his first 15 deliveries. During the 16th over, he attempted a quick single after Jaiswal nudged the ball towards the gully. However, the run was canceled as Jaiswal sent him back. A throw at the stumps hit Pant’s pads and deflected towards mid-wicket, with no fielder nearby.
Noticing the empty space, Pant and Jaiswal seized the chance to run a quick single. Litton Das, however, seemed displeased with Pant for claiming the run after the ball deflected off his pads.
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Over the stump mic, Litton questioned Pant’s sportsmanship, prompting Pant to retort, “Usko bhi to dekho, mere ko kyu maar re ho?” (You see him, why is he hitting me?). Litton defended his fielder, saying, “Wo to maarega hi na” (He will hit, won’t he?), to which Pant replied cheekily, “Main bhi to bhaagunga” (I will also run).
Argument between liton das & rishabh pant.
Rishabh : “usko feko na bhai mujhe kyu mar rhe ho” pic.twitter.com/cozpFJmnX3
— PantMP4. (@indianspirit070) September 19, 2024
Pant and Jaiswal managed to build a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, Pant eventually fell to Mahmud, attempting a poke at a delivery outside off stump, getting dismissed for 39 runs off 52 balls, including six boundaries.
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Earlier in the day, Mahmud wreaked havoc on India’s batting lineup. He first removed the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, in his third over with a sharp edge to the second slip. He then dismissed Shubman Gill, who was strangled down the leg side in his fourth over. The prized scalp of Virat Kohli followed, lured into chasing a wide delivery and edging it straight to Litton Das. After Pant’s dismissal, Mahmud’s impressive figures stood at 4/25 in 11 overs.
