Rishabh Pant is known for his fearless strokeplay, but on Day 3 of the third Test at Lord’s, frustration briefly got the better of him. During the morning session, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter let out a roar of disappointment after missing out on a scoring opportunity against England pacer Chris Woakes. It was a rare moment where emotion spilt over, underscoring how much the innings meant to him.
Pant, who had injured his left index finger while keeping on Day 1, had been in visible discomfort. The injury forced him off the field, with Dhruv Jurel taking over wicketkeeping duties. Despite the pain, Pant bravely walked out to bat at No. 5, determined to anchor India’s reply.
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The missed opportunity came on the first ball of the 51st over. Chris Woakes delivered a ball with width, and Rishabh Pant, eyeing a cut shot, mistimed it straight to cover. He reacted with a guttural scream—clearly upset at not cashing in on a loose delivery. But beyond that moment of frustration, Pant’s resilience was on full display.
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The day had started brightly for India. Pant and KL Rahul looked solid, playing with confidence and poise. Pant clipped the first ball of the day for a boundary and followed it up with a fluent cover drive. At the 58-over mark, India were 206/3, with Rahul on 83* and Pant nearing his half-century on 48*, trailing England by 181 runs.
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Earlier, England posted 387 in their first innings, courtesy of Joe Root’s composed 104 and valuable contributions from Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56). Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling attack with a superb five-wicket haul—his 15th in Test cricket.
Pant has been one of India’s standout performers in the series. With twin tons in the first Test at Headingley and crucial knocks at Edgbaston, he’s already racked up 361 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 90.25. His determination, despite injury, remains a symbol of India’s fighting spirit in this gripping series.
