Rishabh Pant’s audacious batting style was on full display during the ongoing first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In a moment that had the crowd buzzing, Pant attempted an outrageous reverse lap shot during India’s struggling first innings on October 17.
Unfortunately for the explosive wicketkeeper-batter, his daring attempt didn’t quite pay off, as the ball failed to reach the boundary, barely making contact with his gloves before lobbing towards the leg-slip area where no fielder was stationed. Pant came to the crease at a critical moment for Team India, as they were reeling at 10/3 inside the first 10 overs.
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The decision by Indian captain Rohit Sharma to bat first despite knowing the conditions favored fast bowlers seemed risky, and New Zealand’s seamers wasted no time exploiting the sticky early pitch. Within the first hour of play, India had already lost three crucial wickets, with Tim Southee dismissing Rohit for just two runs, followed by William O’Rourke and Matt Henry removing Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan for ducks, respectively.
Fearless Rishab pant for you .#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/qPm8rngCiX
— Ayan (@ayan3955) October 17, 2024
The specific incident with Pant occurred on the fifth delivery of the 12th over when Matt Henry bowled a length ball on the off-stump. Pant, always eager to put pressure on the bowlers, decided to go for an unorthodox ramp shot. Unfortunately, the ball glanced off his gloves and fell harmlessly in the leg-slip region, missing a chance to turn the momentum in India’s favour.
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Rohit Sharma, in his pre-match remarks after winning the toss, acknowledged that the pitch would likely be tricky early on, given it had been under covers. Still, he emphasized the importance of putting runs on the board and setting a positive tone for the series. Despite his optimism, India’s top order crumbled, leaving them in a vulnerable position before rain interrupted play on Day 2.
