Rishabh Pant accelerates after fifty, hits flurry of 4s and 6s.

Rishabh Pant has often been scrutinised for the way he bats in Test cricket. Once he gets going, he tries to go after almost every bowler in the opposition. But one cannot deny the fact that his flamboyant batting in the longest format of the game is a treat for the cricket fans to watch. Something similar was on display when the 24-year-old batted against the Sri Lankan bowling attack in the first Test at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.

Around 5000 people had arrived at the venue to cheer for Virat Kohli on his Test match. But they returned to their respective homes after witnessing a whirl winding innings by Rishabh Pant.

4 sixes and 9 boundaries came off his bat. He was especially brutal when it came to going after left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, who was taken for 22 in one over. Pant hammered Sri Lankan bowlers into submission with an enthralling 96 as the hosts reached a commanding 357 for 6 on the opening day of the first Test.

At the same time social media was flooded by reactions. People from the cricket fraternity heaped massive praise on the wicketkeeper-batter who spiced up the Test match in Mohali. Here are some of the reactions.

The walk back to the pavilion took an eternity as it seemed that one would need someone to drag him out. But coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision to send him at number five to bring in the left-hander’s advantage against a left-arm spinner, had paid the rich dividends they were hoping for.

By line: Divya Thearia