Rishabh Pant survived a run-out early into his innings on Thursday, as a mix-up resulted in him having collisions with the bowler and the fielder, before the latter missed a direct hit.
Rishabh Pant had an eventful start to his first batting innings as India T20I captain in the first of five home games against South Africa in Delhi on Thursday, June 9.
The left-hander walked in at No.4, joining Shreyas Iyer after Ishan Kishan had fallen to Keshav Maharaj for a 48-ball 76 on the last ball of the 13th over.
Shreyas Iyer placed a short-of-a-length ball from Kagiso Rabada towards debutant Tristian Stubbs at short mid-wicket, and Pant set off for a non existent single, before rushing on to the bowler who had instantaneously moved towards the ball in his follow-through.
Iyer stood still, puzzled at his partner’s call, and Pant rushed back to his end only to bump into Stubbs and fall over, with the fielder missing a direct hit at the bowler’s end. The batter stood on his knees, before Rabada, his former IPL teammate lent a hand as he got up.
Pant would go on to smash 29 off 16 with two fours and as many sixes, before falling to Anrich Nortje in the final over of the innings. Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 31 off 12 ensured that India finished strongly at 211/4 – the highest T20I score at the venue.
— RohitKohliDhoni (@RohitKohliDhoni) June 9, 2022
Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad (23 off 15) added 57 in 6.1 overs for the opening wicket with Kishan, after Temba Bavuma opted to bowl. Kishan struck 11 fours and three sixes during his blitz, and was ably supported by Shreyas Iyer, who followed his three successive unbeaten fifties against Sri Lanka earlier this year with a steady 27-ball 36.
India are currently on a 12-match winning streak in T20Is, which is one away from a world record.
