Rishabh Pant bounces back to form with an impressive half-century against New Zealand XI

The Indian team might have faltered in the first innings of their three-day encounter against New Zealand XI with only Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari scoring runs. Pujara made 93, while Vihari retired on 101. India managed to put 263 runs on the board. However, in the second outing, the Indian batsmen took a liking to the Kiwi bowlers.

Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal started off in an aggressive fashion and then Rishabh Pant joined the bandwagon. Shaw got out for 31 and Shubman Gill’s woes continue as he was dismissed for 8 runs. But Pant was promoted to no.4 and he went after the bowling with gusto as if he had to prove a point to the selectors after been left out of all the three formats after poor tun with both the bat and the gloves behind the stumps.

The Indian bowlers had given a great advantage to the team after shooting out New Zealand for 235 with Mohammad Shami picking 3/17 and Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini and Umesh Yadav picking two wickets each. The highest score from New Zealand XI came from Henry Cooper, who made 40 runs. However, the Indian second innings belonged to Agarwal and Pant, who were at the top of their game.

Rishabh Pant smacks an explosive half-century

Agarwal made 81 runs in 99 balls, which was a good show of return to form, after his poor outing in the ODI series and then scoring 1 run in the first innings. But Rishabh Pant must have the team management feeling better after his aggressive 70 came from just 65 balls with four fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 107.69.

The first Test match will begin from February 21 at Wellington. India last won a Test series in New Zealand in 2009, when they had won the first Test of the series and remainder matches were drawn. In 2014, the visitors lost the series 1-0 after Brendon McCullum slammed a double century and a record 302 in the two matches.

This time, however, much more than just a victory would be at stake, as 12,0 points of the World Test Championship will be on the line when the two teams clash. India needs 100 more points to qualify for the final of the Championship, which will be played at the Lord’s in 2021 and would hope and try to get them against New Zealand itself.