IND vs BAN: Game-Changer! Which record of MS Dhoni did Rishabh Pant equal? You'll be surprised to know!
Xtra Time Web Desk: Is it possible to make such a comeback! This often-overused phrase seems to perfectly fit Rishabh Pant's story. Exactly 632 days. After 632 days, Rishabh Pant returned to the world of red-ball cricket. And on the 634th day, he scored a century. In other words, as soon as he returned to red-ball cricket, Pant became the owner of a hundred. He scored a brilliant century in the second innings against Bangladesh. After his car accident, there were doubts about whether Rishabh would even survive. As months passed, cricket lovers started wondering if Pant would ever return to international cricket. However, the star of Team India proved the entire world wrong. He scored 109 runs off 128 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 85.15, hitting 13 fours and 4 sixes.
Pant's sixth Test century has placed him alongside former captain MS Dhoni for the most hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket. While Dhoni reached this milestone throughout 90 Tests in his celebrated career, Pant has matched the record in just 34 appearances.
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When Rishabh Pant walked in at No. 5 during India's first innings, the team was in trouble at 34/3. It was a familiar situation for Pant, known for his aggressive stroke play and ability to rescue India from precarious positions. He quickly steadied the ship, forming a 62-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal and contributing a well-paced 39 off 52 balls. Yet, right after lunch, a moment of over-aggression led to his downfall, nicking a delivery to the wicketkeeper.
Pant's dismissal felt like a missed opportunity, but the second innings offered a chance for redemption-and he seized it magnificently. Coming in during the 20th over with India facing another collapse at 83/3 and the dismissal of Virat Kohli for 17, Pant arrived at a critical juncture. The team still had a strong 227-run lead, but the loss of early wickets had opened up an opportunity for Bangladesh. Pant needed to balance aggression with caution, something he had struggled with at times in his career. This time, however, he rose to the challenge with a composed and mature approach.
WELCOME BACK TO TEST CRICKET, RISHABH PANT! ????????????#RishabhPant #INDvBAN #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/C4gJuv29Y1
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) September 21, 2024
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His half-century, which came off 88 balls, was slower than his usual knocks but reflective of his growth as a player. Pant knew when to accelerate and when to bide his time, showcasing a side of his game that has often been overlooked. His discipline didn't last long, however. As the match progressed, Pant pounced on loose deliveries, carefully selecting when to open up, turning the pressure back on Bangladesh.
As the forecast for rain loomed, Pant and Gill began to shift gears. With half-centuries under their belts, they capitalized on Bangladesh's flagging morale. Boundaries flowed as batting conditions eased, and Pant effortlessly transitioned from his early defensive mindset into an attacking one, hammering the Bangladesh bowlers.
