Pant’s crucial knock helps India come back in the game. The wicket-keeper/batsman Rishabh Pant has been able to hit back the hosts with a crucial half-century. With 51 off 60, Rishabh assist captain Kohli with a different style of batting and ends the first session with his first fifty of this series.
Rishabh Pant came out as a survival for the Indian team, after India lost two early wickets. South Africa started well, taking down Pujara and Rahane but Pant seemed to gear up and takes the responsibility to turn up the heat. Rishabh Pant took a blow after getting injured by Marco Jansen. Rishabh’s little finger seemed to get swollen by the injury but he came back and hit Keshav Maharaj for a six.
Rishabh has helped captain Virat, scoring runs from one end while Virat makes the bowler frustrated, leaving the ball smoothly. Virat can happily continue with his different mindset of batting, taking a back foot, while Rishabh’s counter attack can trouble the pacers and Keshav as well.
Rishabh’s 50 include some dangerous damage to the South African bowlers, who seem to get frustrated and the fans can witness Rishabh’s aggressive shot selection. With a strike rate of 85.00, Rishabh plays a crucial knock in the game which decides a historical fate for team India. Pant pressurized the pacers while Virat doesn’t seem to get tempted with the balls delivered outside off.
Questions were made on Rishabh’s capability in Test cricket, which got worse when his shot selection made coach Rahul Dravid frustrated. Today’s match witnessed Rishabh with a role of responsible batting and Rishabh knocked every ball heartily. Rishabh seems to rectify his previous mistakes, outshine his talent. With an unbelievable strike rate, Rishabh marches on for a half century before the end of first session.
India as of now is leading by 143 runs, losing the first four wickets, with the score at 130-4. South Africa’s joy changed towards the end of the first session as Virat-Pant stand still with the partnership of 72(147).
