IND vs BAN: Rishabh Pant Belts A Breezy Century On Test Comeback
Rishabh Pant has just performed a comeback for the ages! After a long 634 days away from test match cricket-talk about a long vacation-he strode back onto the field against Bangladesh and scored his sixth test match century. It’s like Rishabh Pant never left! Pant At Par With MS Dhoni With this dazzling performance, Pant tied the record with MS Dhoni for most test match centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. If there was a comeback award, Rishabh Pant would be a hands-down winner. Pressure? What Pressure? After a lackluster 39 runs in the first innings, the stage was quite laid out for Pant to shine in the second. India wobbly at 67/3, he stepped out like he owned the place. Channeling his inner superhero, Rishabh Pant soaked in the pressure like a sponge before unleashing a batting display that saw Bangladesh’s bowlers spinning circles in a dizzy daze. Talking about luck? Bangladesh’s captain dropped him on 72—ouch! But Pant took it as a sign to keep the runs rolling. Batting Bonanza Sharing the limelight with Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant brought his century shortly after lunch on day three, treating the crowd to his trademark single-handed six. It was like watching a magician perform tricks. Pant’s batting was a dazzling mix of calculated caution and audacious aggression as he nearly became impossible to keep pace with for the visitors. By the time Rishabh Pant departed at 109, he had practically batted Bangladesh out of the match, setting a daunting target of over 450 runs. A Century with Heart Well, this was no ordinary century. It was Rishabh Pant’s first across formats since surviving a life-threatening accident nearly two years ago. Rishabh Pant’s return to test match cricket does not just read as a personal victory, however it reminds us all that comebacks come at an extraordinary price. Rishabh Pant is back and here to stay–let’s see what more magic he has up his sleeve! The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
5 Times Ravichandran Ashwin Saved India in Test Cricket
We all are aware of Ravichandran Ashwin’s ability to spin a web and trap the opposition, especially when playing for the Indian Cricket Team in the whites. However, very little do we speak of Ashwin rescuing the Indian Cricket Team in crucial test matches – not with the ball we are talking about, but with the bat. Just what he proved once again in the on-going 1st test match against Bangladesh at Chennai, his all-round ability has been crucial to India’s success over all these years. Ravichandran Ashwin piled on a mammoth score of 113 off 133 deliveries and saved the Indian Cricket Team from a batting collapse. Alongside him was Ravindra Jadeja who supported him with a steady 86 run knock coming off his bat off 124 deliveries. Here are five such instances when Ravichandran Ashwin’s batting heroics pulled India out of trouble in test cricket. 1. 106 vs England, Chennai (2021) At a precarious 106/6 with a lead of 301 runs, Ravichandran Ashwin’s century (106 off 148) in the second innings helped India set an uphill target of 481, which England could not chase and India emerged victorious by 317 runs. 2. 124 vs West Indies, Kolkata (2013) The score card read India 156/6 in their second innings with the West Indies posting 234 in the first innings. Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma combined to help India amass 453. India thus went on to win by an innings and 51 runs. 3. 91* vs England, Kolkata (2012) After posting 523, England had made it clear in their batting that it was going to be tricky for India to see them off. It was 122/6 in the second innings, and after this, it was not the best of days for Indians as Ravichandran Ashwin batted his way to an unbeaten 91 to take India to a respectable score of 247. 4. 118 vs West Indies, St. Lucia (2016) Ravichandran Ashwin’s 118, coupled with Wriddhiman Saha’s 104, helped India recover from 87/4 to 353, after which it gained momentum for a 237-run win. 5. 72 vs England, Mohali (2016) When India was in trouble at 156/5, Ravichandran Ashwin’s subdued 72 got India to a total of 417, which gave the team a comfortable victory over England. These performances aptly describe the treasure bag Ravichandran Ashwin brings out under pressure and thereby proves he is more than a world-class bowler. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
SL vs NZ: When Was the Most Recent ‘Rest Day’ in a Test Match?
This day and age, cricket fans are in for a nostalgic treat. Sri Lanka is gearing up to host New Zealand next month, with the inclusion of a “rest day” in a test match series that includes two tests. Since the first Test in Galle starts on September 18th, 2024, it will add a rest day on September 21st, 2024, because of the presidential election of Sri Lanka. History – Rest Days Rest days, once a regular feature of Test cricket, were usually witnessed in games in England where the game used to have six day Test matches with Sunday off. The occurrence though has fallen rapidly in recent times. Let’s glance at the recent instances of a test match having a rest day. Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2001 The last test match played in Sri Lanka that had a rest day was in Colombo in 2001 against Zimbabwe. The Test, which ran from December 27 to January 1, had December 30 off as a rest day for Poya Day, which is a full moon holiday in Sri Lanka. Despite the extra day off, Sri Lanka cruised to an innings and 166-run victory as the Zimbabweans collapsed. Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 2008 The last time a rest day was taken during a Test match was in Dhaka in 2008. Bangladesh was hosting Sri Lanka when a rest day was taken on December 29 because of a parliamentary election. New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2014 2014 saw another unscheduled rest day in a test match between Pakistan and New Zealand, who were playing in Sharjah when news reached them of the tragic death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes. The match resumed the next day. Pakistan eventually lost by an innings and 80 runs. As Sri Lanka and New Zealand prepare to face each other, having a rest day would definitely bring back memories of cricket’s traditional format and add a unique twist to the upcoming fixtures. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
