Rishabh Pant, the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, has become somewhat synonymous with heartbreak in the 90s. In the ongoing first Test against New Zealand, Pant once again fell agonizingly short of a century, getting dismissed for 99 off 105 balls. This marked the latest instance in what has become a frustrating pattern for the left-hander.
Pant now has several close misses in Test cricket, where he has been dismissed in the 90s. Whether it was his 93 against Bangladesh in Mirpur, 96 against Sri Lanka in Mohali, or now his 99 against New Zealand, Pant has consistently found himself one step away from reaching the coveted three-figure mark.
These nineties aren’t isolated incidents, either. Dating back to 2018, Pant has fallen in the 90s on multiple occasions, including 97 against Australia in Sydney and 92 twice against the West Indies in 2018. Despite being one of the most explosive and reliable batsmen for India in Test cricket, these frequent dismissals in the 90s have been a source of personal frustration for Pant.
While the “nervous nineties” may seem unlucky, it also highlights Pant’s consistent ability to get close to a century and dominate bowlers. His aggressive style and match-winning abilities ensure that his name remains a vital part of India’s lineup, despite these frustrating near-misses.
Pant is also chasing MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. Had he converted these scores into hundreds, he would have already surpassed Dhoni. Nonetheless, these near-hundreds underline Pant’s incredible consistency and impact in Indian cricket, even if they come with a hint of bad luck.
