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In a video going viral on the internet from the morning session of the 2nd day’s play, Pant can be seen motivating his Indian teammates to keep Aussies under check.
Rishabh Pant motivates Indian players. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
The first Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and Australia is currently underway in Perth. In the match taking place at Optus Stadium, after posting a total of 150 runs in the first inning, India dismissed the Aussies for just 104 to take a crucial lead of 46 runs. Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah led from the front and picked up five wickets for 30 runs. Apart from him, Harshit Rana dismissed three batters in the first innings of his maiden international match, and two Aussie batters were sent back to the pavilion by Mohammed Siraj.
India dismissed seven Aussie batters, which included the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja, in the evening session of the first day’s play for 67 runs, and then removed Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc in the first session of the second day.
During the morning session of Day 2, star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was seen motivating his teammates to keep Aussies under check and make life difficult for their batters.
In a video going viral on the internet, Pant can be heard saying, “Dhile pad ke nahi kaam chalega bhai! Thoda mahol banana padega. Lagana thoda! Dum lagana padega bhai!”
Pant, who is doing wicketkeeping duties for India in the match despite the inclusion of Dhruv Jurel, completed three catches in the first innings, and it helped him become the first Indian and overall three wicketkeeper-batter in the world to complete 100 dismissals in the World Test Championship.
Pant has successfully taken 87 catches and has 13 stumpings to his name in 30 WTC matches. The overall record of most dismissals in WTC is in the name of Australian stumper Alex Carey, who has completed 137 dismissals in 33 matches. He is followed by West Indies’ star Joshua Da Silva (108–103 catches, 5 stumpings).
Apart from his wicketkeeping, Pant made his presence felt in the match with his batting as well in the first inning and scored 37 runs from 78 runs. During his stay at the crease, he hammered three fours and one six and also joined Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the list of Indian batters who have managed to score more than 2000 runs in the WTC.
