Rishabh Pant opens India's innings alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. (Twitter) The second ODI match between India and West Indies threw out an almighty surprise when Rishabh Pant accompanied skipper Rohit Sharma to start the Indian innings after West Indies sent India out to bat after winning the toss.
Starting the innings with Pant is something that has come straight out of the left field and might have caught West Indies off guard as they surely weren’t expecting him to walk out of the pavilion this early.
Pant’s stay would, however, be pretty short as was undone by the extra pace of Odean Smith. He was rushed onto the shot by Smith’s extra pace and spooned it high and behind square on the on-side. Holder ran across to his left from mid-wicket and took the catch as Pant departed back to the hut scoring just 18 runs in 34 balls.
Even the fans on social media were thrown off and a deluge of posts flooded the internet as Pant came out to take strike. Here’s some of them:
Very interesting that with KL Rahul available, India have chosen to open with Pant. Tells me that there is a move towards looking at Rahul at no 4, where his numbers are good, as a long term option
โ Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 9, 2022
Rishabh Pant when he was opening the innings for India U19 team ๐๐คฏ#RishabhPant #INDvsWI #INDvWI #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/dHvOY1OZO3
โ CRICKET VIDEOS ๐ (@AbdullahNeaz) February 9, 2022
.@RishabhPant17 has been promoted as an opener ๐
Interesting move from India ๐ฎ๐ธ: Disney+Hotstar#INDvWI #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/ZvxLebhSQQ
โ CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 9, 2022
RISHABH PANT IS OPENING THE BATTING!!!#INDvWI
โ Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 9, 2022
Paltan, thoughts on Rishabh Pant opening? ๐ง#OneFamily #INDvWI
โ Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 9, 2022
Stop what are you doing right now..
Rishabh pant is opening for first time ๐ฅ@RishabhPant17 #RP17 #INDvsWI #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/3A3SzQc5n7โ Rishabh Pant Trendsโข (@TrendsRishabh) February 9, 2022
West Indies take the wicket of skipper Rohit Sharma in the powerplay ๐
Promoted opener Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli are building a stand.
India are 37/1 after 10 overs.#INDvWI | https://t.co/1bhdqBexF0 pic.twitter.com/siZZscy1Jb
โ ICC (@ICC) February 9, 2022
Suprisingly rishabh pant is opening with rohit Sharma๐ฎ pic.twitter.com/0SWCZk0NCI
โ Cricket Gamee (@cricketgamee62) February 9, 2022
Stop what are you doing right now..
Rishabh pant is opening for first time ๐ฅ@RishabhPant17 #RP17 #INDvsWI #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/3A3SzQc5n7โ Rishabh Pant Trendsโข (@TrendsRishabh) February 9, 2022
Rohit Sharma & Rishabh Pant opening for India
Dont know how to react but just loving it
๐๐๐ unexpected #RohitSharma #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/LfYgNpALAkโ Nick๐ค (@fortyfive09ro) February 9, 2022
Invited to bat, India scored 237 for nine against the West Indies in the second One-day International, here on Wednesday.
Suryakumar Yadav top-scored for the hosts with his 64-run knock while vice captain KL Rahul missed his half-century by one run after being run out.
Deepak Hooda, who made his ODI debut in the previous match, scored 29 while all-rounder Washington Sundar contributed 24.
For the West Indies, Alzarri Joseph (2/29) and Odean Smith (2/36) took two wickets each.
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