Rishabh Pant suffers heartbreaking dismissal on 99 after a knock full of defiance and grit

Rishabh Pant played a mind-blowing innings on Day 4 (19 October, Saturday) of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, but suffered a heartbreak when he was dismissed on 99. This was the latest incident of Pant missing out on Test hundred once again.

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He has six Test centuries to his name and has been dismissed in the 90s seven times. Pant once also got out on 89. While it was disheartening to see Pant miss out on a well-deserved century, the dismissal doesn’t impact the value of his innings.

Pant-Sarfaraz bails out India

Pant joined Sarfaraz  Khan in the first session as India decided to promote him ahead of KL Rahul. Having already lost Virat Kohli on the last ball of Day 3, India were in a spot of bother on 231/3 and needed a big partnership.

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Pant and Sarfaraz gave the team management exactly what they wanted but in their inimitable style. While Sarfaraz scored 150 off 195 balls and smashed 18 fours and three sixes, Pant scored 99 in just 105 balls. He hit nine fours and five sixes including a slog sweep maximum against Tim Southee that landed on the roof of the stands.

𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸! 😍

Rishabh Pant smacks a 1⃣0⃣7⃣m MAXIMUM! 💥

Live - https://t.co/FS97Llv5uq#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/4UHngQLh47

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2024

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He was eventually dismissed by William O’Rourke’s sharp bouncer that surprised Pant on his defence and took the inside edge before crashing onto the stumps, but the 177-run partnership that he put up with Sarfaraz has not only allowed India to take the lead in the match but with some support from Ravichandran Ashwin and the tail, the hosts can also aim for an unexpected win.

Read: Sarfaraz sings most mellifluous of redemption songs at Chinnaswamy with fearless maiden Test century

Also, don’t forget that Pant was forced to sit out for the majority of the time when India were in the field bowling as the wicket-keeper got hit on the right knee on Day 1. He received the injury on the same leg in which he had surgery following his car accident, but the audacious Indian cricketer didn’t let that impact his batting as he once again proved that he is one of India’s best team players.