Indian cricketers KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant played some incredible innings on the final day of the English tour that put some respectable fight on the behalf of Indian cricket team in the fifth Test at The Oval.
The visitors’ Indian cricket team, who already lost the five-match Test series after losing the fourth Test and getting behind by the 3-1 margin, started the fifth day on 58/3, coming to chase a mammoth fourth innings target 464 runs.
After Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed on 37 runs that also provided a crucial 118-run fourth-wicket partnership and rescued the team from the initial top-order collapse, Indian opener KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant provided a brilliant 204-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
When Indian team was struggling on 121/5, the duo provided that massive partnership and tried hard to save the game. Opener Rahul, who already completed his half-century during his partnership with Rahane, stretched his innings for long and completed a brilliant century in 118 balls. He further stretched his innings and supported the young Pant to provide the desperate fight for saving the game.
Meanwhile, Pant also played another impressive innings that will be remembered for a long time in Indian cricket. The 20-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman completed his maiden half-century in 78 balls and further he completed his maiden century in 117 balls.
After the brilliant 204-run partnership for the sixth-wicket Rahul finally lost his wicket on 149 runs off 224 balls (20 fours and only six). Rahul was bowled by the English leg-spinner Adil Rashid with a brilliant unplayable delivery.
In his next over, Rashid dismissed another set batsman Pant who was batting on 114 runs off 146 balls with 15 fours and four sixes. Pant slogged a googly which Moeen Ali found safely at the long-on and ended that another great knock.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Fantastic display of controlled aggression by @klrahul11 and @RishabPant777.
This partnership is just one of the many fascinating moments this Test Series has provided us with. Test cricket at its absolute best. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/bN3WzdEDUb— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 11, 2018
Opened account in Test Cricket with a 6, first century in Test Cricket with a 6. Very impressive young man- Rishabh Pant. A brilliant innings from KL Rahul as well. Shining light amidst a difficult tour.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 11, 2018
200 runs partnership @klrahul11 @RishabPant777 that’s the way boys 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 11, 2018
Really admire the attitude of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant , this attitude of not giving up. Memorable centuries for both of them.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 11, 2018
First Indian wicket keeper to score a 100 in England and the first Indian keeper to score a 100 in the fourth innings. Delightful innings from Rishabh Pant. pic.twitter.com/q7TfdB7qDk
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 11, 2018
An absolutely brilliant hundred from KL Rahul. Full of class and exemplary stroke play.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 11, 2018
200 runs partnership in the the last inning of the test match between #Rahul and #pant absolutely courageous batting 💪#engvsind
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 11, 2018
Rishabh Pant & KL Rahul Depart In Tandem to Rashid but what a fight these two have given today. Test Cricket at Its very best. Rahul and Pant have shown Fearlessness is the way ahead #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/S617Wu0j0u
— ANSHU CHOUDHARY 🇮🇳 (@KumarAnshu04) September 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/rameshsrivats/status/1039502669709287424
Extraordinary innings by rishabh pant and KL Rahul . now go for it mates. Create history ! #RishabhPant #ENGvIND
— Pulkit Gupta (@pulkit_5) September 11, 2018
Only an Engineering student who gets a backlog in 4 subjects and passes in only one can understand the importance of these hundreds by KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. 😂
— Pankaj Sharma (मोदी का परिवार) (@pksharma305) September 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/CriketPandu/status/1039499339087765504
Starts his career with a six, gets his first century with a six. This will be fantastic for Rishabh Pant's confidence going ahead. Big plus from this last day
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 11, 2018
Absolutely top innings from KL Rahul. And it required a monster ball to get him.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 11, 2018
