India captain Rishabh Pant managed just 5 runs in his 7-ball stay during the second T20I versus South Africa at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on Sunday evening. Pant’s scrappy and short knock meant India didn’t find the impetus in the middle-overs after a cracking start from Ishan Kishan.
Following Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s early dismissal, in the first over itself, Kishan, on high from his 76 in the previous match, blasted 34 runs off 21 balls, his innings laced with 2 fours and 3 sixes, while on the other end, Shreyas Iyer dawdled at less than run-a-ball (Iyer was 15 off 20 at one point in his innings).
Rishabh Pant Failed Again With The Bat
Kishan’s wicket in the 7th over brought Pant to the crease and the Indian skipper started knocking around for singles at the start of his innings.
It was Iyer’s twin attacking shots – a six and a four – to Tabraiz Shamsi in the 9th over that indicated India’s – and Iyer’s – preference to attack the Protea spinners. Pant, however, succumbed to this mode of approach as, on the first ball of the 10th over, he holed out at sweeper cover off Keshav Maharaj’s bowling, giving the spinner a wicket on his first ball in the game.
Anticipating Pant’s aggressive mode and his intentions, and seeing the left-hander come out of his crease to whack one, Maharaj smartly hurled it fast, flat and well outside off-stump – so much that had Pant left it, it would have been called a wide. However, Pant had already made up his mind and went after the widish delivery – only to slice it in the air on the offside where Rassie van der Dussen came running in from deep to gobble up the catch.
Pant was coming off a ballistic knock of 29 runs in 16 balls in the previous game in Delhi. Today, though, his wicket for a cheap score left the Cuttack crowd stunned. Disappointed. Pant had his head down as he dragged himself off the field.
There was no respite for Rishabh Pant on social media as he got trolled mercilessly for his poor outing tonight.
Here are some of the noticeable tweets on Rishabh Pant’s forgettable knock:
Pant fans preparing a thread ” how Shreays made Pant out.”.
— . (@badman_aa) June 12, 2022
Excuse from Pant fans now:-
Shreyas increased Pressure on Pant with slow SR & Pant got out!!!!
But they won’t see Pant was 5(6) before playing that shot & getting out
#INDvsSA #RishabhPant #Cricket
— MaHi Edwards
(@MaHi_Shreyasian) Brainless stuff, again. Hahaha, Pant doing this now shouldn’t be a surprise. SLA to lhb, what Pant did was right should be the last thing I would like to hear now.
— BALAJI (@deep_extracover) June 12, 2022
I know it sounds weird but Pant isn’t a captaincy material. He has developed attitude in his mind . If you look back the clips of 2007 WC ,one thing you will notice msdhoni never behaved arrogant or like he is now the supreme.He knew his limits which was the reason of his success
— time square
(@time__square) It’ll turn around for sure, but Rishabh Pant’s T20I numbers are quite underwhelming.
An average of 23.9 and a strike-rate of 126.7 after 39 innings.
Before the death overs, the SR is 119. #INDvSA
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) June 12, 2022
That would’ve been six if you had just fallen over while hitting it, Pant.
— Manya (@CSKian716) June 12, 2022
I asked you all not to pick pant in ur fantasy team…proved it right…
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) June 12, 2022
There is no shame in bailing out on a clear wide. Utter stupidity from Pant
— Cricket Tamizhan (@CricketTamizhan) June 12, 2022
