The enigma of why Rishabh Pant has failed to make mark in T20 Internationals continues as the left-hander got out for only 1 runs in the third T20I against England on Sunday at Trent Bridge.
With India chasing a mammoth target of 216, Pant, opening for the second game in a row, managed just a solitary run in 5 balls and got out to left-arm seamer Reece Topley on the first ball of the second over.
Pant, who was promoted to open in the last game and clattered 26 runs off 15 balls, today started off cautiously against the other left-armer, David Willey, first playing three dots and then got off the mark with a single.
Rishabh Pant underperforms again in T20Is
On the first ball by Topley, Pant inside edged a length delivery from the pacer and was caught by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler and was given out by the on-field umpire. But Pant didn’t walk away straightaway and discussed with non-striker Rohit Sharma whether to go for the DRS.
Because the ball also took a deflection off Pant’s thigh of the back leg, he perhaps didn’t feel the inside edge and would have been talking about the lbw with Sharma. After a long discussion, Pant eventually went for the DRS but the time-marker of 15 second had exceeded. That fortunate for India as the replays showed a clear inside-edge of Pant’s bat.
This further raised questions on Pant’s place in the T20I eleven. While Pant is already an Indian legend in Test cricket, his numbers in T20 Internationals do not do justice to his talent and skills – in 50 T20Is, Pant has scored 768 runs at mediocre average of 22 and strike rate of 124.
Fans were upset and frustrated that Pant wasted another opportunity while some were angry and slammed the management for benching players like Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson while Pant continues to underperform.
Here are some of the upset fan reactions to Pant’s cheap score today:
Topley gets Pant for 1 and India 2.1 from 1.1 overs.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 10, 2022
Don’t make us fool @BCCI, Pant last 6 match scores – 5(7), 6(8), 17(23), 1(1), 26(15), 1(5).Still he backed strongly but players like Hooda,Sanju played back to back good innings,they are not getting chances. Why these much backing for this kid we seriously dnt knw
#INDvsENG
— TheDestroyer (@D_Destroyer_) July 10, 2022
Failure No.50 for Pant still getting continues games without any contribution to the team in T20 whereas Sanju Samson who scored brilliant 77 on his comeback match didn’t got chance after that has been sent home shame on @BCCI for wasting generational talent like Sanju. #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/SqyBJ2LBil
— Roshmi
(@CricCrazyRoshmi) Countless failure for rishabh pant in t20i continues #RishabhPant
— Rajesh Gaonkar (@GaonkarRajesh1) July 10, 2022
Virat Kohli sryesh iyear gill pant sabko T20 se bahar kro BCCI tum apni manmarji nhi kar sakte
— Subhash Chandra Dev (@Subhash21240571) July 10, 2022
in dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta +pant left hand quota se khel raha hai
— Harvey dent (@Harveydent3003) July 10, 2022
Ok……..lol
— 𝐌 𝐀 𝐋 𝐀
(@smart_sarcasm) Yes vk disappointed but sabse phle pant sahab ko ab t20se bahar kr dena chahiye pant ind k liye t20 me ind ko he duba dega
— Er Mahadev Butola (@Mahadev13101995) July 10, 2022
Should Pant be included in India’s playing 11 for T20 WC this year ? #INDvsENG
— A N K I T (@Ankitaker) July 10, 2022
If u guyz persists with @RishabhPant17 in t20is ,u wl always b in this situation..u dropped @ishankishan51 @HoodaOnFire fr this rishabh who never plays with any responsibility since his 50 appearances..he is only gud in test whr players r close in.. who backs him n y in t20
— Hindustan
meri Jaan (@Arti_1209) Man Rishab Pant’s str. rate 125 in T20Is? Even after those quick fire innings since last 1 yr?
— RK (@nani22b) July 10, 2022
