Asked to bowl first, India kept chipping away wickets at regular intervals to keep the game in balance at 201/5 heading into Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra proved to be the main run accumulators for the Kiwis, as was the case in Bangalore, with knocks of 76 and 65 respectively, but three scalps for Ravichandran Ashwin and two for Washington Sundar ensured the visitors were not allowed to run away with the momentum at any particular stage. Amidst all this on-field action and drama though was a constant undertone of humour and entertainment courtesy of the likes of Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rohit Sharma all crowding around the bat during quick and intense spells of spin bowling that put the opposition under pressure. The former two however took no breaks from the banter even when the cricket was stopped after the end of sessions, culminating in a hilarious moment during the team huddle after Lunch.
Most of the Indian comntingent was stood near the boundary line waiting for the entire team to assemble and skipper Rohit to deliver the team talk before play resumed, including Pant in full wicket-keeping gear. While the veteran roamed about inching for the action to begin, he found Sarfaraz in the circle and immediately lifted his left knee close to the newcomer’s face who instinctively backed away a couple of steps. The two locked stares for a few moments, such altercation evidently a regular part of their banter, before serious business got underway as Rohit arrived.
Twitterati could not help but laugh over the relentless commotion the duo causes whenever out on the field.
True
Timber
#Sundar hits the timber twice to get #Ravindra & #Blundell in a short span
🇦🇺 201-5 at ☕#GautamGambhir #KLRahul #Gill #Kuldeep #Axar #Ashwin #Kohli #Siraj #Rabada #Young #Sarfaraz #Conway #INDvNZ #PAKvENG #Pune #Jaiswal #IPL2025 #pant #Jadeja #Bumrah pic.twitter.com/NSHocT2YbD— Yash Agarwal (@yashagarwal685) October 24, 2024
IND vs NZ 2nd Test match
– Rishabh Pant having fun with Sarfaraz Khan.
– There is no player or person like Rishabh Pant, our Rishabh Pant is a very good person. #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/F3cUAfwQP9— The Hindustan Army (@Hindustani57041) October 24, 2024
They will rule
What a strike
Sunder strikes again#INDvsNZ #INDvsAUS #PAKvsENG #KLRahul #Rishabpant #PakistanCricket #RuturajGaikwad #ViratKohli #RishabhPant #2ndtest #IPL2025 #IPLRetentions #Ashwin #Sunder pic.twitter.com/vMMibJlNjK
— Rangmanch cricket (@justwithflow) October 24, 2024
Shubman Gill was Doing Masti with Rishabh Pant In Field 😂#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/zioUjnFK2o
— Cricket addicted 🏏🇮🇳 (@VikashJ13660845) October 24, 2024
It’s fun time
Rachin Departs
Sunder strikes. RACHIN RAVINDERA gone #INDvsNZ #INDvsAUS #PAKvsENG #KLRahul #Rishabpant #PakistanCricket #RuturajGaikwad #ViratKohli #RishabhPant #2ndtest #IPL2025 #IPLRetentions #Ashwin #Sunder #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/qClYAo2Gsp
— Rangmanch cricket (@justwithflow) October 24, 2024
Toota hai Gabba ka ghamand day: When Rishabh Pant vroomed into legend territory as India breach Brisbane fortress… pic.twitter.com/j6L1D6GcgH
— Priyanshu Karan (@karan_rajput872) October 24, 2024
Enjoy
