Team India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been a revelation in the ongoing season feeding on big knocks in the longest format of the game. He backed his brilliant form with a magnificent century in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad to pull his side out of danger and take them to a safe place in the game.
Meanwhile, India were in a spot of bother in pursuit of England’s 205 runs in the first innings. The hosts lost a couple of wickets in the opening session of day 2 as ace all-rounder Ben Stokes posed all sorts of trouble against the Indian batters. Jack Leach removed Cheteshwar Pujara while James Anderson and Stokes removed Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli respectively.
In walked Rishabh Pant at No.6, and since then, he has been on top of English bowlers. He adopted a cautious approach early on partnering with Rohit Sharma to bail India out of danger. They relied mostly on singles to keep the scoreboard ticking as the run were hard to come by in the morning session. Although Rohit walked back one short of a fifty, Pant paired wee with Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar to do revival work.
Rishabh Pant brings his 3rd century
Sundar and Pant looked in complete control of things as the latter started to free his arms gradually. Rishabh Pant targetted England skipper Joe Root and James Anderson to score runs quickly and eventually India took the hard-earned lead in the first innings. The youngster kept up the hard work to bring his 3rd Test century and propel India to a decent position.
Also Read
James Anderson Gets To 900 International Wickets, Joins Elite List
He brought the hundred with a towering six over the mid-wicket region off Joe Root to reach the landmark. In the process, India stretched the lead to 50+ runs slowly pushing England out of the game. Pant returned soon after reaching his hundred in an attempt to play an outrageous pull shot off James Anderson only to find the mid-wicket fielder.
Meanwhile, microblogging site Twitter erupted in joy soon after Pant touched the three-figure mark. From former India cricketers Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag to former English skipper Michael Vaughan, everyone bowed down to magnificent Rishabh Pant.
Twitter Reactions:
Me Watching Rishabh Pant reverse sweep Anderson for a boundary and then bring up his century with a SIX.
That's my Boy! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/yunVL1GRTQ— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 5, 2021
Live scenes #INDvsENG #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/VLjkyB0E8p
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 5, 2021
Shot Of 2021…..that reverse sweep vs James Anderson with the second new ball. Audacious. Adventurous. Rishabh Pant is an absolute freak. Love his play to bits. #IndvEng
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 5, 2021
Pant backs up Brisbane.
Pant is a PLAYER!— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) March 5, 2021
Special player .. @RishabhPant17 !! 👏👏👏👏 #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 5, 2021
Pant 😮
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) March 5, 2021
Rishabh Pant is either your favourite cricketer to watch right now or you are wrong.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 5, 2021
One of the best 100s we will see: just superb from @RishabhPant17 what an innings and so so glad he has converted. Fantastic. #INDvENG
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 5, 2021
Drives me mad when batsman say “Well that’s the way I play“ … Pant has shown in one innings that is complete nonsense! Play the situation….
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) March 5, 2021
Special player special 100 @RishabhPant17 👌🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟#INDvENG #Gamechanger keep going champion
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 5, 2021
What an unbelievable knock from Rishabh Pant. Be it Test or ODI or T20 he is always on 🔥 💯 @RishabhPant17 @BCCI #INDvENG
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) March 5, 2021
