Watch, IND A vs SA A | Pant continues love affair with stump mic on first competitive match after injury

‌After opting to field in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A, India A had a promising start at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Pacer Anshul Kamboj dismissed opener Lesego Senokwane in the fourth over of the match, with the score reading just six.

But that was followed by a dry spell as Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamsa scored fifties to put on a century stand to frustrate the hosts. Captain Rishabh Pant tried introducing his spinners in search of that elusive breakthrough, but to no avail.

Just as spinners Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar were starting to run out of patience and get frustrated, he came up with words of comfort for the duo. The wicketkeeper-batter first asked Kotian to keep bowling at the wickets and not bother about getting hit, and convinced him that wickets would come.

He asked the bowler not to get frustrated and to bowl in a relaxed manner, also advising him to get into rhythm, and the wickets would automatically follow. On the other end, he was impressed with Manav Suthar’s line and length and challenged him on a lighter note to bowl all six balls on the same spot.

Though nothing much happened, Pant was infectious with his energy on an otherwise dull afternoon as he backed his bowlers to the tilt. Twitter felt deja vu as Pant was at his chirpy best on his return to competitive cricket after a foot injury in England.

Rishabh Pant is back!