Pant struggled to get going at Mount Maunganui in the second Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand on Sunday, 20 November. India tried Rishabh Pant out in a new role and it didn’t work. India tried to make room for Pant in their plans by putting him at the top of the order with Ishan Kishan. While Kishan flourished during the power play, Pant’s shaky innings ended after just 13 deliveries.
T20Is saw two left-handers open for India for the first time since 2012, but that didn’t last long because fast bowler Lockie Ferguson removed Pant in the final over of the power play. Tim Southee, running backwards to complete a catch at third man, got his hand on the ball and completed a fine catch.
Pant’s inclusion in the T20I side has been supported by players like Dinesh Karthik, who have stated that Pant performs best at the top of the batting order. The fact that Pant’s strike rate is well over 150 when he comes out to open the inning is one of the arguments presented by Karthik in support of his claim.
His career strike-rate percentage is more like the mid-120s, so this is a significant improvement. The ultra-aggressive hitting prowess of Rishabh Pant, Karthik cautioned, comes with the possibility that the batter will fail frequently.
Many had anticipated that Sanju Samson would be given a shot at starting for India on Sunday, but instead, he was rested in favour of Pant and Ishan Kishan. Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Deepak Hooda rounded up the Indian batting lineup.
The game was halted with the Indian score at 50/1 after 6.4 overs due to rain.
New Zealand Playing XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson
India Playing XI: Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya (c), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Twitter Reacts:
Most Single-Digit scores for India since Pant's T20I debut
Advertisement28: Rohit Sharma (85 inns)
20: Rishabh Pant (55 inns)*
15: Virat Kohli (64 inns)
14: KL Rahul (62 inns)#RishabhPant— The Cricket Panda (@TheCricketPanda) November 20, 2022
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Should play at gabba only, in whites. https://t.co/zz5MNK0u0P
Advertisement— Tanishq Mishra (@Make_RR_win) November 20, 2022
Why @RishabhPant17 is in Indian team??? https://t.co/tPLKJG8MHX
— CMA Rajani Kant Choudhary (@rajanikant_1990) November 20, 2022
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BCCI and management noted this is a very mature and patient knock from Rishabh Pant, current vice captain that ensures him a spot in playing XI for another 20 T20 matches. As always, they were impressed by the one four he hit and thought his dismissal was just unfortunate. https://t.co/mk7LiUKibz
Advertisement— Fahir Maithutty (@fahir_me) November 20, 2022
Wats the strike rate 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/ftFAWdTIVd
— ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ ಮೇಟಿಕುರ್ಕೆ (@shreyasms) November 20, 2022
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Yeah… This apparent legend shall score some day😊 How is his effort and intent any different and what about his fitness and running between the wickets?? https://t.co/4PF4hY9qEy
Advertisement— Abhigyan Ghosh (@AbhigyanGhosh2) November 20, 2022
Martial of ICT https://t.co/qwdE80QxKx
— . (@naahmannotagain) November 20, 2022
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Isse acha to Rahul hi tha 🤣🤣
AdvertisementWhat's the point of taking Shubman Gill then …. Where's the logic …. https://t.co/mRVT4sEnp4
— AK (@findiing_a_life) November 20, 2022
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For the kind of player he is, it's extremely disturbing & disappointing to see him throw the chances he get in T20Is😑😒 https://t.co/KqU4GxWd6O
Advertisement— թɾíվαα (@koffeeinsane) November 20, 2022
