'Great intent shown' - Twitter annoyed with Rishabh Pant's yet another failure against New Zealand

Rishabh Pant has got an opportunity to don the gloves in the ongoing second T20I between New Zealand and India the Bay Oval. It is to be noted that he and Sanju Samson were selected as the first-choice wicketkeepers for this series.

The 25-year-old yet again showcased a dismal batting performance as he managed only six runs to his name and that too by consuming 13 balls at a strike rate of 46.2. He was dismissed in the sixth over when he was caught by Tim Southee off Lockie Ferguson.

Meanwhile, it needs to be noted that Pant is also the stand-in vice-captain and therefore, his inclusion in the playing XI was a no-brainer. However, Pant’s long-time competitor for the limited-overs stumper’s slot Samson has not been selected in the playing XI. However, another wicketkeeping specialist Ishan Kishan got a chance to feature in the second game.

Rishabh Pant looking to prove a point in the T20I series against New Zealand

This year Rishabh Pant did look in splendid touch while batting in Tests and One Day Internationals. Unfortunately for him, that was not the case in T20Is where he just could not make an impact with his gifted power-hitting techniques.

Despite being promoted up the order as an opener in some matches earlier this year, the southpaw failed to make it matter and even though he showcased forgettable batting performances in the Asia Cup 2022 especially in the Super 4 fixtures against Pakistan, and, Sri Lanka, Pant still managed to find a place in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2022 squad.

In the showpiece tournament, the Delhi cricketer warmed the bench for most of the games and only got a chance in India’s final Super 12 fixture against Zimbabwe. Even there, he failed as he scored a painstaking three runs off five deliveries.

In the semifinal against England at the Adelaide Oval, the team management decided to include Pant as a keeper-batter ahead of an off-colored Dinesh Karthik. Nonetheless, the promising cricketer misfired yet again in a crucial fixture and was run out for just six.

Here's how Twitter reacted: