Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is back in the Indian side, and he is already doing the Rishabh Pant things from behind the stumps.
Good calls on DRS, charging the bowlers up, and mic-drop one-liners on the stump mic; India are already witnessing the comedy and the clutch from Pant.
India are currently hosting the South Africans, the defending champions of the WTC, for a two-match Test series. India once again lost the toss and Gill announced the changes in the squad, as Rishabh Pant’s return was the most obvious move.
However, surprisingly, India has played with 4 spinners in the side, and Axar Patel has made a return. Washington Sundar is yet to bowl in the match, and his batting position will also be a major development for the Indian team.
Rishabh Pant advises bowlers on the identified flaws of Proteas batters
Rishabh Pant is often known as an intense character on the field. He is known for his batting antics as well as constant cheering from behind the stumps. Pant’s return marked some good DRS turned-down calls, as they later proved to be the right decisions made by the Indian gloveman. This marked the return of the animated master.
Pant, in a latest video, was heard advising Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to keep it a bit fuller and towards the stumps, as the South African batters, or rather the entire team, are known to play such deliveries on the backfoot.
He then further made fielding changes in an aggressive catching position, as he predicted that Temba Bavuma is a serial sweeper against spinners. Bavuma was eventually caught at a short leg position, though not off a sweep shot.
Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav continue to run the show post-Lunch
With the top three sent back into the dugout by the Indian bowlers ahead of Lunch, Wiaan Mulder, South Africa’s new number 3, began proceedings alongside Tony de Zorzi as they came out for the second session of the first day’s play at the Eden Gardens.
Known as an effective nest for pacers, Jasprit Bumrah turned exceptionally useful under the conditions. However, Kuldeep Yadav, the serial wicket-taker for India, also could not be kept out of the game.
Kuldeep bowled a delivery that found Mulder plumb in front of the three stumps as he missed an attempted reverse sweep. Despite Mulder’s review, it showed three reds, and South Africa lost a wicket alongside a review.
Bumrah continued the onslaught from the other end, as he dismissed Tony de Zorzi with a ball that kept very low. South Africa lost another review here as the ball pitched around off and crashed into the three stumps, and the batter was caught off guard, trapped in front of the stumps.
India dropped Sai Sudharsan-Who will bat at no. 3?
The Indian team dropped their recent best find in the number three batting position, which has been a constant problem since Virat Kohli’s retirement. Though Sai Sudharsan was picked for the squad, he has been snubbed of a Playing XI spot.
Instead, Washington Sundar’s name was on the team sheet. Sundar bats like a batter, and it remains to be seen whether Gautam Gambhir has considered promoting Washington Sundar to number 3 or Dhruv Jurel, since Pant will take up the number 5 spot on his return.