Rishabh Pant narrowly missed scoring his seventh Test century for India when he was dismissed for 99 during the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Rishabh Pant’s 99-run innings came at a crucial moment for India in 2024, but he fell just short of reaching a well-deserved hundred. Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive batting, is the latest player to be out on 99 in Test cricket.
A thrilling 177-run stand between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant gave everyone the thrill of hope. To his maiden Test hundred, Sarfaraz struck 150 off 195 balls, but Rishabh Pant returned with a score of 99 as he unluckily got out. Sarfaraz hit 18 boundaries and three sixes in his counter-attacking cricket after being off to a shaky start. So did Rishabh Pant, who hit nine fours and five sixes in his aggressive knock.
Sarfaraz Khan & Rishabh Pant’s Efforts In Vain as NZ only had 107 runs to win
However, the pivotal situation turned only in the direction of New Zealand when the visitors took the second new ball just before tea. Tim Southee’s piercing bowling further fractured a crucial partnership as Sarfaraz Khan was caught after his brilliant 150. The wrack continues to get worse as Will O’Rourke, who has troubled India all through, sent Rishabh Pant back to the dressing room in the 89th over igniting a dramatic collapse.
From a promising position at 344-3, India went on to lose seven wickets for just 54 runs, O’Rourke and Matt Henry each taking three wickets to dismantle the tail. O’Rourke’s 3-92 included important wickets such as KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, while Henry’s 3-102 made up the tail, leaving India all out for 462 in 99.3 overs.
The former Indian cricketer, Ajay Jadeja sees a lot of Rohit Sharma’s best qualities in the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant. Jadeja sees both players have a similar approach to their game.
Ajay Jadeja on Rishabh Pant having more 90s than 100s after IND vs NZ 2024 1st Test
Ajay Jadeja reckons Rishabh Pant might be disappointed after narrowly missing yet another century in the first Test between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru. He noted that the special player now has the unique record of scoring more 90s than hundreds.
Pant smashed 99 runs off 105 deliveries in India’s second-innings total of 462. However, his attacking knock went in vain as the hosts lost the match by eight wickets on Sunday, October 20.
Reviewing the game on Colors Cineplex, Jadeja was asked about his thoughts on Pant’s knock, especially since he was once again dismissed in the 90s.
“You can only appreciate Rishabh’s knock. His best comes out whenever it is required, when everyone is in trouble, or when the circumstances are difficult. He used to say that he didn’t bother about the nineties but when he came last time on our show, he said he has started paying attention to hundreds,” he responded.
“Don’t know what goes on in his mind, when Rohit Sharma, who stays with him throughout the day, couldn’t understand. However, it must be pinching. He now has fewer centuries and has gotten out in the nineties more times. It’s interesting. It’s a rare record. Since he is a rare guy, he will make rare records,” the former India captain added.
Rishabh Pant has struck six centuries and has been dismissed in the 90s seven times in Tests. He would have surpassed MS Dhoni for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter had he converted any of his 90s into a hundred.
Ajay Jadeja on Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the test match
In the same discussion, Ajay Jadeja noted that Rishabh Pant’s dismissal on 99 in the Bengaluru Test cannot be attributed to nervousness.
“If you see this dismissal, it doesn’t seem like it was due to mistakes that can happen due to nervousness. Yes, there was a mistake in execution, the balance wasn’t there because when you get out, something lacking is found,” he said.
“However, I doubt he becomes nervous, and I can particularly say that about this innings. It didn’t seem like he was under the pressure of a century, from whichever angle you might see,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Pant has amassed 2551 runs at an average of 44.75 in 36 Tests. He has been dismissed in the 90s twice against the West Indies and once each against Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand.