New Delhi: The first innings on day 4 of the Leeds Test presented an extreme contrasting batting style in the first session of play, with a serene KL Rahul sharing the crease with the carefree Rishabh Pant.
Making just 50, though well-made, Rahul showed patience and textbook stroke to poke the innings. Pant, in stark contrast, brought in his aggression of the trade, a combination of slog sweeps and cheeky scoop shots, adding impetus to the game and Rahul supplying the guard of the innings at the other end.
On the 4th day during Lunch, India was in a commanding position as the duo of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant had patiently put up high scores of 153/3. The duo remained unbeaten at the break, with Rahul on 72 and Pant on 32. That partnership of 61 runs came to the rescue as they stabilised the innings following the early loss of captain Shubman Gill who was dismissed off 8.
KL Rahul was the perfect senior batter as he used to take control in the partnership and calm down Rishabh Pant at times when the latter was ready to play a bold shot. One of the instances of such interaction spread virally on X when Rahul could be seen telling Pant not to swing the ball too hard as he gently reminded him that it was one of their all-important partnerships, perhaps reminding him to apply a bit more caution in striking the ball.
Rahul told Pant, “Ball achhe se dekho.”
Rishabh Pant replied: “Nahi aisa nahi hai aise hi ghuma du ball achhe se dekhta hoon.”
Previously, when the pitch gave a lot of assistance to the seamers, first-innings centurion Shubman Gill was able to score just two runs to his overnight figure before being dismissed by Brydon Carse to 8.
Brydon Carse had struck early as well in flight, a sharp good length one angled back in at the seam to surprise Shubman Gill. The India captain could do no better than a choppy thick inside edge off the pad on to the stumps bringing his innings to an early end. England continued to attack after that – KL Rahul was literally given a second life by Harry Brook, who overturned a catch at 58 soon after scoring his 18th Test fifty and Rishabh Pant survived a bowled-out claim, the DRS proving to be his salvation.