India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's audacious strokeplay continues to amaze cricket fans. He did the same on Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand. Pant, unlike others, wasn't nervous at all in his 90s, infact he unleashed a monstrous 107-metre six off Tim Southee's bowling in the 87th over. The sheer power and precision of the shot sent the ball soaring out of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, leaving everyone in awe. Pant did this when India were already in a commanding position which showcased his fearless approach to the game.
As the ball made contact with Rishabh Pant's bat, a resounding sound echoed through the stadium. The sheer force and precision of the shot left everyone, including the opposition players, stunned. Glenn Phillips, a New Zealand player, couldn't hide his astonishment as his jaw dropped in disbelief. Even Pant's batting partner, KL Rahul, couldn't resist a wry smile as he silently acknowledged the brilliance of his teammate's stroke.
However, Pant's knock was cut short by William O'Rourke when he was just one run away from notching his century.
Before his dismissal, he formed crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan, who also scored a maiden Test century. Khan's timely knock helped India recover from a difficult situation and seize control of the match.
India, after a dismal first innings performance where they were bowled out for a mere 46 runs, have staged a remarkable comeback thanks to a brilliant partnership between Rishabh Pant (99 off 105) and Sarfaraz Khan.
The duo stitched together a 177-run stand for the fourth wicket, putting India firmly in the driver's seat. Sarfaraz, in particular, played a phenomenal innings, scoring his maiden international century and reaching a personal milestone of 150 runs. His knock, studded with 18 fours and 3 sixes, has transformed the course of the match, rescuing India from the brink of defeat and propelling them to a position of dominance.
As of Tea, India are well placed at 438/6, leading New Zealand by 82 runs after 90.2 overs. Earlier, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli also chipped in with crucial fifties in India's fightback.
