Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has been receiving praises from all corners after he unleashed havoc on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali. The batting superstar is known for his aggressive batting skills, however, he played a very mature knock on a good batting surface in Mohali.
Rishabh Pant started off slow and played very carefully until he reached his half-century. Surprisingly, as he crossed that figure, he changed gears and unleashed the beast in him. He smashed 22 runs off the 76th overs bowled by Sri Lanka’s Embuldeniya.
Pant smashed 6,6,4,0,2,4 in a single over and made everyone sit on the edge of their seats. He smashed the bowler all around the ground, making Embuldeniya become wary. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja was enjoying the innings at the other end and so were the fans in Mohali.
However, the knock was put to an end by medium pacer Suranga Lakmal. Rishabh Pant blazed away to a 97-ball 96 to power India to 357 for six on the opening day of the first Test. His terrific knock was smashed by 9 boundaries and 4 sixes in the whirlwind knock.
Meanwhile, social media was flooded with amazing reactions from the netizens to it. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter to hail the brilliance of the 24-year-old cricketer.
Here, check out the best reactions from Twitterati:
But it was entertaining and thrilling to watch while it lasted! What an innings by Rishabh Pant. So audacious! #INDvSL
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 4, 2022
Rishabh Pant is one hell of an exciting cricketer!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 4, 2022
Well played Rishabh Pant ?? pic.twitter.com/zgOeX2QMS9
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) March 4, 2022
Opposition teams when Rishabh Pant bats. #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/eR6vy0veLx
— Arpan (@ThatCricketHead) March 4, 2022
Rishabh Pant be like. #IndvSL pic.twitter.com/IhxMfZ6Ap8
— Rajabets India??? (@smileandraja) March 4, 2022
Heartbreak for Rishabh Pant, he misses out on a century yet again. Gone for 96 in just 97 balls, he truly deserved this hundred. A superb innings ends from Pant, unlucky to miss out there. pic.twitter.com/uvJe21aLaR
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 4, 2022
Crowd reaction from behind tells you the importance of your knock and how eagerly they were waiting for your century. What a star, what a box office Rishabh Pant is. pic.twitter.com/N91cEGHxGM
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 4, 2022
Doesn’t matter whether it is on 96 or 196 — Rishabh Pant walking off a field after getting out is one of the most gut-wrenching sights in contemporary cricket. The demeanour of a kid who was just beginning to enjoy himself when mom yells at him to get back inside and do homework
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) March 4, 2022
Rishabh Pant will do to Test cricket what Adam Gilchrist did for us who grew up in 90s and 00s. Someone who plays the game freely and brings more people to the game, breathes fresh air into the game of cricket!
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 4, 2022
Just one of those regular reminders to myself, every time I see India play a Test match these days: I’ll pay good money to watch Rishabh Pant on the field.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) March 4, 2022
If assaulting opposition bowlers is an art then Rishabh Pant is a Picasso of it. pic.twitter.com/ICpqnTwwVx
— Shivani Shukla ? (@iShivani_Shukla) March 4, 2022
From “Dhoni-Dhoni” to “Pant-Pant” – we have come a long way. Whatta player. ? A special knock at home. ? #RishabhPant#CricketTwitter #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/oLchrKaOfP
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) March 4, 2022
Kids score 90+ and make their family proud.
Legends score 90+ and make whole country proud.
Chin up @RishabhPant17 ?? #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/w2U0o7LUGg— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 4, 2022
Earlier, Virat Kohli missed out on a well-deserved half-century in his landmark 100th Test as he was bowled out for 45 by Embuldeniya after he shared a 90-run stand with Hanuma Vihari, who played a fine 58-run knock. Team India ended the 1st day of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka on 357/6 runs.
