Rishabh Pant's international career is under further threat after his flop show in the ongoing Pink-ball Test match between India A and Australia A. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper, who was earlier dropped from India's white-ball squads, got an opportunity to put forward his case to feature in the first Test match in Adelaide, but failed again, departing for just 5 runs off 11 balls.
The stage was set for Pant to impress one and all as India were 4 wickets down for just 102 runs but the Delhi batsman failed to capitalise. The youngster has been given a chance in the tour match alongside his senior counterpart Wriddhiman Saha, who save the team from a defeat in the first practice match.
Pant was welcomed with a series of short deliveries before medium-pacer Jack Wildermuth bowled a full-length delivery which the strugling India batsman missed completely while trying to guide it towards leg-side.
The short outing of Rishabh Pant has almost confirmed Wriddhiman Saha's berth in India's playing XI for the first Day-Night Test in Adelaide from December 17.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first India were off to a flyer after India reached to their first 72 runs in just 8 overs despite losing the early wicket of Mayank Agarwal. Opener Prithvi Shaw was brutal in his approach as he smashed 8 boundaries in his 29-ball 40. Shubman Gill, batting at number three in Cheteshwar Pujara's absence played a handy 43-run knock off 58 balls but Indian batting collapsed soon after his departure.
At the stroke of Tea, India were reeling at 111 for 6. After play resumed Wriddhiman Saha also departed for a 22-ball duck.