With his clever antics and banter behind the wickets, which is frequently captured by the stump mic, Rishabh Pant never fails to amuse spectators. Pant once again took center stage with his humorous banter on Day 1 of the second Test match between India and New Zealand, which was played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, on October 24. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, who is known for keeping the action going even when wickets are not falling, was taken by surprise during a lighthearted conversation with Washington Sundar regarding Ajaz Patel.
Pant was heard giving Sundar advice on his bowling plan against Ajaz Patel during New Zealand's first session of batting. "Washy thoda aage daal sakte hain, you can bowl a little fuller. Thoda bahar dal sakta hai." he said. To everyone's surprise, Ajaz Patel hit the ball for a boundary straight down the ground when Sundar followed Pant's instruction and pitched it fuller.
Caught on stump mic
Pant's impromptu response added to the moment's humor. The wicketkeeper joked, "Yaar, mereko kya pata isse Hindi aati hai," as if perplexed that his strategy had failed. The joke was that Ajaz, a player of Indian descent who played for New Zealand, had figured out Pant's Hindi instructions and had taken advantage of them.
Jio Cinema published the amusing moment, and it went viral very fast. Pant's distinctive characteristic is his exuberant enthusiasm behind the stumps, which makes the game more entertaining. This incident served as yet another illustration of how his humorous demeanor keeps the team positive even during stressful situations.
Washington Sundar steals show on Day 1
Washington Sundar was the star of Day 1 after he picked up seven wickets in an incredible display with the ball. The 25-year-old off-spinner, who was chosen before Kuldeep Yadav, made an impression in his maiden Test match in almost three years. Sundar took great advantage of the spin-friendly conditions and displayed remarkable control. His terminations were notable for their caliber as much as their quantity.
Rachin Ravindra was a classic example; he was batting nicely at 65 when he was undone with a magnificent delivery that dipped, drifted, and crashed into the off-stump. New Zealand's hitters were unable to handle Sundar's bowling, as six of his victims were bowled or trapped leg before wicket. India now has a commanding lead after this historic 7-wicket haul, paving the way for an exciting match.
