Rishabh Pant is someone, who either bats in the middle or the lower-middle order. His role in the batting lineup is mostly to come and throw the kitchen sink at everything. In a number of instances, Pant has come and won his team matches from precarious positions. However, Wednesday, February 9 witnessed something very different and unique.
Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma opened the batting for Team India in the first ODI against West Indies on Sunday, February 6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For the second game on Wednesday, February 9, KL Rahul replaced Kishan in the playing eleven. So, it was assumed that Rahul will open the batting with skipper Rohit in the second encounter.
Rishabh Pant flatters to deceive
But that wasn’t the case, as Pant went out as Sharma’s opening partner. After being put in to bat first, the Men in Blue decided to conduct the experiment. The move didn’t pay off by any means as Pant perished after scoring 18 runs off 34 balls with the held of three fours. Odean Smith got rid of him to cut short his stay in the middle.
Pant tried to curb his natural instincts and see off the new ball, but his approach hardly paid dividends. The 34-year-old Sharma had a tough day in the office, as he got out in the third over of the Indian innings. Kemar Roach pinned him and sent him packing. The home team had lost both their opening batters in the first 12 overs.
In the very over when Pant got out, former skipper Virat Kohli also perished, leaving India reeling at 43 for three. Kohli’s indifferent run of form continued as he became Smith’s second victim. Rahul, in the meantime, batted at No.4 and scored 49 with four fours and two sixes before Akeal Hosein and Shai Hope combined to run him out.
After Pant was sent out as the opener, the netizens raised their eyebrows. The fans found it hard to comprehend the reason behind sending Pant to open and slotting KL Rahul in the middle order.
Here’s how the netizens reacted to Rishabh Pant opening the batting
Last match rishabh pant this match kl rahul this is why it is so necessary to have permanent no 4,5,6
Lack of communication was the reason.
— Rockfort Chandru (@eishu_loyolite) February 9, 2022
Bro rishabh pant was an opener
— Gourav Gitesh Acharya (@GouravGitesh) February 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/DebAnu2002/status/1491357335553384452
can we see rishabh pant making way for ruturaj gaikwad as an opener in next odi 🙂
— The Mind Orgasm (@themindorgasm_) February 9, 2022
The promotion of #RishabhPant as Indian ODI opener probably shows that someone in the think-tank really wants to have a left-handed batter facing the new ball with a right-handed batter, à la #Ganguly, #Gambhir previously, and #Dhawan & #IshanKishan recently. #INDvsWI
— Anshuman Nath (@AnshumanNath) February 9, 2022
Lol I understood that as Rishabh Pant opening, then reading the comments, I was wondering wth everyone is talking about?! Took me a minute to get there😭😂
— Anu (@_SachiR) February 9, 2022
Many people don't know that Rishabh pant has opened before in U19 world cup, and done a magnificent job. So this is not a shocker. But I believe he must not be confused with the role. Either he is a finisher or an opener. Don't expect him to do both.@BCCI @ESPNcricinfo
— Cricket (@Cricketdharma) February 9, 2022
No idea why used #RishabhPant as opener today! This sends a signal that team is sort of fixing #KLRahul as No.4 which is a good sign. But in absence of #Dhawan , we need an opening batsman alternative. Can't use a finisher at top order! #INDvsWI #INDvWI #CricketTwitter https://t.co/NVD1KcrBYQ
— Akash Agrawal (@AkashAgrawal_1) February 9, 2022
Sending #RishabhPant as opener was a great move!! Was expecting to play like Adam Gilchrist,but the player himself looked so cold as No fire left$$..
So bad!!— jaison jose (@jai4u87) February 9, 2022
Rishabh Pant has come to the opening in ODIs for the first time#INDvsWI
— Sagar🏏🏏 (@CricketSagar7) February 9, 2022
