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Xtra Time Web Desk: Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant staged a crucial fightback for India on Day 4 of the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Facing a significant deficit, the duo delivered a vital partnership to keep India’s hopes alive, battling through difficult conditions.

The partnership, however, nearly ended in disaster during the 56th over when a miscommunication while running between the wickets resulted in a close run-out call. Sarfaraz had called for two runs, but Pant, who was recovering from a knee injury sustained earlier, hesitated. The injury slowed Pant down, and he was caught ball-watching, nearly costing India a crucial wicket.

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Sarfaraz, trying to prevent the run, frantically gestured for Pant to stop, with commentator Ravi Shastri humorously describing the scene as Sarfaraz performing a "rain dance" to get Pant’s attention. Fortunately for India, New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell fumbled the ball, and Pant made it back to his crease just in time.

After the incident, a visibly frustrated Sarfaraz revealed in a post-match interview, "Rishabh had taken a blow on his knee, so we had already discussed that we would be cautious while running. I had initially called for two runs, but remembered his knee issue. Thank God he survived—it could have changed the game."

The way Sarfaraz Khan stopping Rishabh Pant. ????????

- THIS IS WHOLESOME..!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5OoJkS5WwC

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) October 19, 2024

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Pant, who had been substituted on Day 2 due to his knee injury, returned on Day 4 and contributed significantly alongside Sarfaraz. His gritty knock, along with Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test century, helped stabilize India’s innings as they fought to narrow the gap with New Zealand’s first-innings lead.