Test between India and South Africa, the 24-year old wicket-keeper and batter did not seem to be in a chirpy mood, nor was he willing to exchange any kind of friendly banter with the South African middle-order hitter Rassie van der Dussen.
It appeared as though van der Dussen had gotten into Pant’s ears with his disputed catch the day before, and reminded the India wicketkeeper of it at the conclusion of the 38th over.
Pant, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, and the 24-year-old told the Protea that “if you have half-knowledge, then keep your mouth shut.”
The exchange was followed by a nasty bouncer by the devastating pacer Kagiso Rabata that stunned the Indian south-paw as the ball bumped off his gloves and was almost ready to be caught by the fielder standing at slip.
Now frustrated by all the talking and shook up by the bouncer, Pant wanted to shake everything off and release the accumulated pressure by swinging for the big shot on the following delivery. However, the ball brushed past the bat as Pant swung for the fences and went straight into the hands of the opposing skipper Kyle Verreynne.
It was clear as day that Pant had given into van der Dussen’s tactics and had lost his wicket by getting riled up. After three balls, he got out and had to walk back to the dressing room while putting absolutely no runs on the board for the Men in Blue.
With the second Test of the series still two days away from getting concluded, South Africa are at 118/2 and need just 122 runs to win the clash at the Wanderers cricket ground and level up the series at 1-1 before heading to Cape Town for the series-deciding match.
