Rishabh Pant achieved two very impressive batting milestones during his knock of 46 in the 1st Test between India and Bangladesh.
Rishabh Pant and Test matches is a different love affair altogether. A large chunk of Pant's success in international cricket is due to his exploits in Test cricket. Pant may not have fared too well in limited-overs – although his ODI record isn't that bad – but in Test matches he becomes a different beast. Pant, at 25, has Test centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, and looked set to get one in Bangladesh as well before he got out for an attacking 46 on Day 1 of the 1st Test in Chattogram on Wednesday.
Under the pump for his low scores in Asia Cup, T20 World Cup and the India vs New Zealand, Pant was released from the squad for the Bangladesh ODI series on medical grounds. Returning to play the Tests, Pant began the series well with a solid knock of 46 off just 45 balls, during which he blasted six fours and two sixes in a counter-attacking innings. Pant walked in to bat at the fall of Virat Kohli's wicket, which left India in trouble at 48/3. But instead of playing himself in, Pant batted in the only manner he knew: attack
Pant took one single off the first six balls, before walloping Taijul Islam for a cracking four. In his next over, Pant smashed a four and a six off consecutive deliveries before turning his attention to Mehidy Hasan Miraz, taking both spinner for four more boundaries. Pant's stunning assault forced Shakib Al Hasan to ring a bowling change and bring on Ebadot Hossain, but the pacer was welcomed with a boundary. A second six later off Mehidy, Pant rocketed to 46 before getting bowled the very next ball to a loose shot playing on.