When under pressure, do what your heart says. An incantation that New Zealand captain Tom Latham followed to get rid of the on-song Rishabh Pant who looked hesitant to leave the field after the TV umpire overturned the onfield decision after Lunch on the third day of the Wankhede Test.
Rishabh Pant’s calculative approach in a rank-turner acted as the bridge separating New Zealand from a whitewash in Indian soil. Despite five early wickets in the morning session, the southpaw mixed caution with aggression in his batting approach to bring India’s lead under 50. As the game shifted towards the hosts with Sundar holding one end up, ultimate drama unfolded in the 22nd over with Latham’s reviews against Pant being the centre of attraction.
Having survived a review on the second ball of the 23rd over, Pant was on the receiving end of yet another TV umpire referral as Latham risked using New Zealand’s last review two balls later. Pant was seen shimmying down the ground against Ajaz’s loopy delivery outside the stumps but ended up getting a thud at the pad towards wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. While the onfield decision was not out, New Zealand opted to risk their final review in a chance to get rid of the on-song batter. The Ultraedge showed slight spike as the ball rolled past the inside edge of Pant’s willow, probably more off the sticker and hence the decision had to be overturned. The Delhi-based batter was vividly unhappy with the decision and engaged with umpire Richard Illingworth in a deep conversation. Unfortunately, he was left with no choice but to amble off the field dejected, breaking the Twitterverse into a debateful discussion.
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 3, 2024
Wickets falling easily but rishab pant from the other side :
pic.twitter.com/wMTsGGM4uL— Balajibiii (@balajibiii) November 3, 2024
LOL!
Bad
There shouldn’t be any doubt now that Rishabh Pant is the greatest wicket keeper batsman India has ever produced. Well played Spidey. pic.twitter.com/UGgprEVBNJ
— Mubeen Afzal (@MubeenAfzal6677) November 3, 2024
Rishabh Pant wicket #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/g1HAAphDZx
— GR Jaam (@GORDHANJAAM) November 3, 2024
Didn’t expect that!
Yeah!
Absolutely Amazing a Performance by our excellent wicket keeper batsman Rishabh Pant💯♥️ He did the best today 💯🔥
— Tanya Sharma (@TanyaSh00345462) November 3, 2024
3RD Test. WICKET! 21.4: Rishabh Pant 64(57) ct Tom Blundell b Ajaz Patel, India 106/7
— Rizwan Farooqui (@RizwanRizzzii) November 3, 2024
LOL!
Sunil Gavaskar 🗣️(After Rishabh Pant’s wicket) – “They don’t use the Hotspot here, that would’ve been even more conclusive in this situation” (On air) pic.twitter.com/VjWaqmHQE2
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) November 3, 2024
He is great player!
Rishabh pant Bharti cricket team ke honhaar khiladi hai, inke wicket keeping behtarin hai, yah bahut hi Maja kya kism ke vyaktitva ke dhani Hain. Ham unko Ujjwal bhavishya ki Mangal Kamna karte Hain.
— AK Singh Rajpurohit (@aks_rajpurohit) November 3, 2024
