“Controlled and not reckless.” These words from commentator Harsha Bhogle defined the innings of Rishabh Pant as he steered India home in the third ODI against England, at Old Trafford, in what was made a tricky run-chase after the top three failed again.
Rishabh Pant’s maiden ODI century, brought up in his 24th ODI innings and after 5 fifties and after a highly-backed promotion to number 4 from the Dravid–Sharma management, helped India claim the ODI series 2-1 in England.
It was fitting that he brought up his century via a pull toward deep square leg for he has played the pull shot with immaculate control and enviable effectiveness today. 46 of his 125 runs came between the square leg and mid-wicket region. He also took a toll on other parts of the ground.
The Rishabh Pant And Pandya partnership helped India win the game
Given a target of 259, India once again, like in the previous match, found themselves in a worrisome position, at 38/3 which then turned into 72/4.
However, unlike the previous game, they found two heroes. One who is building his reputation, Hardik Pandya, and the other, Rishabh Pant, who is now making his numbers better in international white-ball cricket – that would alleviate some fans’ concern.
Pant and Pandya shared a mammoth partnership of 133 runs off 115 balls, wherein they played entertaining cricket – playing their shots, but not being reckless about it, but rather being calculated. In fact, Pant even decided to slow down as Pandya attacked the bowlers.
Pandya got out scoring 71 runs off 55 balls. And England must have sensed a way back. But Pant didn’t let his happen.
After Pandya’s dismissal, Pant reined into the England bowling, smashing 48 runs off 25 balls in a 56* runs stand with Ravindra Jadeja, and killed off the game soon, walloping 5 boundaries at the end to David Willey to assert his authority.
Twitter went ablaze as Rishabh Pant has finally stepped up in limited-overs cricket for India, a mission fulfilled for Rahul Dravid.
Here are some of the reactions by fans on Twitter on Pant’s fantastic maiden ODI ton:
This will be a familiar sight from now on. He is going to finish many games in the next 10 years.
— Prithvi (@Puneite_) July 17, 2022
Series Decider
Rishabh Pant’s craziness – never-ending love story
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) July 17, 2022
Rishabh Pant’s craziness – never-ending love story 
Rishabh Pant show, what a player.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Manchester 2019 to Manchester 2022 – Rishabh Pant has come a long way in world cricket. pic.twitter.com/Dhm79i2Z9g
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Rishabh Pant, you beauty!
Take a bow
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 17, 2022
Rishabh Pant – you are a hero
— Unnati Madan (@unnati_madan) July 17, 2022
Quality knock @RishabhPant17 . In a series decider when it matters most
Great work guys. Well done team india
— DK (@DineshKarthik) July 17, 2022
Jonny Bairstow hugged Rishabh Pant after his wonderful knock. pic.twitter.com/l6fkMybOeu
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 17, 2022
Rishabh Pant scored his first Test hundred in England and scored his first ODI hundred in England – Generational talent.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Hundred by Rishabh Pant – what a knock this has been by Pant. In the series decider, he’s put on a masterclass and gave his best for India.
Take a bow, Pant. pic.twitter.com/kLipqJhFfB
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 17, 2022
4,4,4,4,4 by Rishabh Pant – this is crazy.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
For all the Doubting Thomases, Rishabh Pant will be India’s biggest match winner in the years to come. This 100 also kinds of affirms the passing on of the baton @RishabhPant17
PS: Look out also for a hungry @hardikpandya7 #INDvENG #Pant #Hardik— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 17, 2022
This is one of the best ODI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 17, 2022
Indians with an ODI century in the last two years.
KL Rahul
Rishabh PantEnd of list.
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) July 17, 2022
Pant really paced his innings quite well today. Reached his fifty in 71 balls, and then changed gears to add his next fifty in 35 balls.
Hopefully, today’s innings, allows him to understand how to set up a tempo in ODIs.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) July 17, 2022
All five of Rishabh Pant’s Test centuries have come in the last game of the series, and now his maiden ODI ton has as well. Clutch#ENGvIND
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) July 17, 2022
Watching Pant bat here may make you nervous because he is one of the last two capable batters at the crease, but that’s understandable given India have lost 5 wickets.
What’s not is that it used to feel the same way with Tendulkar in his early to mid-20s from Ball No.1.
— Alagappan Vijayakumar (@IndianMourinho) July 17, 2022
Rishabh Pant has not only won yet another match from a tricky situation, but has laid the template for himself for constructing the perfect ODI innings #INDvsENG
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) July 17, 2022
“72/4, pressure on Hardik and Pant.”
Meanwhile @hardikpandya7 and @RishabhPant17: #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/LkDs5ZDNqG— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 17, 2022
Why Rishabh Pant they asked…
This is why.#ENGvIND
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) July 17, 2022
