Rishabh Pant hits Hasan Ali with back-to-back one-handed sixes
In their T20 World Cup opening in Dubai on Sunday, India produced a dreadful performance against Pakistan. Despite the doom and gloom, there were some bright spots for Team India. Captain Virat Kohli struck a valiant half-century, and Rishabh Pant also contributed with the bat. Pant’s “crazy” hitting skills were on display as the wicket-keeper batter smashed back-to-back sixes off Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali, both one-handed.
The first maximum was a one-handed swipe to the square leg boundary, while the second soared over the bowler’s head and beyond the boundary ropes.
Pant, on the other hand, was unable to maintain the same pace and was caught and bowled by Shadab Khan in the 13th over of India’s innings.
Pant scored 39 runs off 30 balls to help India reach 151 for 7 in 20 overs.
With openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma removed early in the game, India got off to a bad start. Rahul could only conjure three runs from eight balls, while Rohit was out for a golden duck.
Virat Kohli led the way for his team with a half-century, smashing 57 off 49 deliveries.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi was in excellent form, taking three wickets in four overs. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli were all dismissed by him.
Pakistan cruised to 152 for no loss in 17.5 overs, chasing a score of 152.
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, the openers, were in superb form and remained unblemished. Rizwan scored 79 runs off 55 balls, while his skipper scored 68 runs off 52 deliveries.