Following India's painful eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, Rishabh Pant took to Instagram to share a cryptic message. The post emphasized the importance of maintaining silence, working diligently, and letting performance speak for itself. This message could be interpreted as Pant's determination to contribute significantly to India's comeback in the second Test in Pune.
Pant was one of the few Indian players to put up a commendable performance in the first Test. In India's disastrous first innings, where the team was bowled out for a record-low 46 runs, Pant's gritty 20-run knock stood out on the challenging M Chinnaswamy pitch.
In the second innings, Pant displayed remarkable resilience, narrowly missing a well-deserved century with a score of 99. His crucial partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, who scored a magnificent 150, propelled India's comeback. Despite suffering an injury while keeping wickets in the first innings, Pant's determination and skill were evident in his batting performance.
Pant's impressive display in the Bengaluru Test has garnered widespread acclaim. However, the exact meaning behind his cryptic Instagram post remains unclear. Whether it was a message directed at critics or a personal mantra, one thing is certain: Rishabh Pant's focus and commitment will be crucial as India aims to rebound in the second Test against New Zealand.
Rishabh Pant's cryptic Instagram story leaves fans guessing
But what turned everyone heads was Pant's Instagram post, which read:
"Sometimes it's best to just be quiet and let God show people."
Pant's knee injury might trouble India going ahead in the final two Test matches against New Zealand. India's captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed concern regarding Pant's mobility during the match. He revealed that Pant was uncomfortable running due to the knee surgery he underwent after his horrific car accident. As a result, there's speculation that the team management might consider resting Pant to allow for further recovery, given the demanding red-ball season ahead.
"About his injury, he has had a massive operation on his knee. It's better to be careful. When he was batting, he wasn't comfortably running. We need to be extra careful. He has gone through a lot of trauma in the last couple of years. Not easy to keep with pain. On his innings, no one knows what goes through his mind. Only he knows it. That's the kind of freedom we need to give it to him. We just told him please understand the situation but that's Rishabh," said Rohit Sharma in the post-match presentation.
