IND vs NZ 2024: Netizens mourn as Rishabh Pant registers seventh nervous-ninety

Cometh the hour, cometh the men. Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan lived by the saying as they helped India recover from a precarious position against New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series.

After a disappointing batting performance in the first innings as the Rohit Sharma-led side was bundled for just 46, New Zealand managed to take a lead of 356 runs. India needed something extraordinary with the bat to have any chance of surivival and that is exactly what Pant and Sarfaraz produced. 

Sarfaraz completed his century in some style and was dismissed for 150 after stitching a 177-run partnership with Pant. After his dismissal, the onus fell on Pant, who looked flawless and even hit a 107-metre six when he was at 90.

But soon after that, he was dismissed in an unfortunate fashion. William ORourke bowled very close to the stumps and Pant dragged the ball to the stumps to be dismissed for 99.

This was the seventh time Pant got out in his 90s in Test cricket. Regardless of that, his knock was extremely valuable as India managed to take a lead after a horrific first innings. India will look to keep up with the momentum and put New Zealand under pressure in their final innings. 

Notably, Pant was suffering from a swollen knee as Dhruv Jurel kept wickets on Day 3. There were doubts about whether the keeper-batter would bat at all but he came out and delivered for the team in a difficult situation.

Pant took some time to settle down at the start before changing gears as India made a staggering comeback in the game. Meanwhile, it is not clear whether the team management will allow Pant to keep wicket in the final innings. 

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