Pant blitz helps India to 357-6 in Kohli's 100th Test
Rishabh Pant smashed 96 to help India to 357 for six on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka after Virat Kohli fell agonisingly short of fifty in his 100th five-day match Friday.
Sri Lanka Sport News
Watch: Rishabh Pant Accelerates After Fifty, Hits Flurry Of 4s And 6s
Rishabh Pant suffered a heartbreak as he was dismissed on 96, just four runs short of his fifth Test century, during the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali on Friday. Pant, who took 72 balls to reach his fifty, accelerated his innings after the half-century and sent the visiting bowlers to the cleaners with a flurry of fours and sixes before being dismissed for 96 off 97 balls. Pant hit nine fours and four sixes in total.
1st Test, Day 1: Rishabh Pant's 96 Takes India To 357/6 At Stumps vs Sri Lanka
Rishabh Pant blazed away to a 97-ball 96 to power India to 357 for six on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Friday. Pant hit nine boundaries and four sixes in his whirlwind knock that was put to an end by medium pacer Suranga Lakmal. Virat Kohli missed out on a half-century in his landmark 100th Test as he was bowled out for 45 by left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya after he shared a 90-run stand with Hanuma Vihari, who played a fine 58-run knock.
Indai vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 1: Rishabh Pant makes statement in Virat Kohli's landmark 100th Test
Rishabh Pant owned the centre-stage in Virat Kohli's landmark 100th Test, hammering Sri Lankan bowlers into submission with an enthralling 96 as the hosts reached a commanding 357 for 6 on the opening day of the first Test here. The 5000 odd spectators, who had come to watch Kohli perform on a grand stage, saw one of the most flamboyant batters in recent history make a mockery of an average Sri Lankan attack. He was especially brutal when it came to going after left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya (28-2-107-2), who was taken for 22 in one over.
India's Pant shines after Kohli falls on 45 in 100th test
:India's Rishabh Pant stole the limelight in team mate Virat Kohli's 100th test with a blistering knock against Sri Lanka on Friday to keep the hosts on course for a big first innings total in the first test at Mohali.
Rishabh Pant's Blazing Knock Ends In Heartbreak, Misses Hundred By A Whisker In 1st Test vs Sri Lanka
Rishabh Pant's blistering innings ended in a heartbreak as he fell just four short from registering his fifth hundred in the longest format on Day 1 of India vs Sri Lanka first Test at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Friday. This would have been Pant's second hundred at home and first against Sri Lanka in any condition but the left-hander was cleaned up Suranga Lakmal when he was batting on 96. The ball just came back in slightly to sneak through the gap between Pant's bat and pad. This was the fifth time Pant was dismissed in the 90s, join most with MS Dhoni among designated wicketkeepers. Understandably so, Pant was distraught. It took a while for him to make his way into the dressing room.
India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Day 1 - "Very Impressive": Sunil Gavaskar Compares Hanuma Vihari With Team India Great
Hanuma Vihari made a good case for taking over the number 3 position in the India Test batting line-up with a measured knock on day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. Vihari looked calm and composed as he scored a half-century, before dragging one back onto his stumps. Vihari is the only Indian top-order batter to go past the 50-run mark as the likes of Rohit Sharma (29), Mayank Agarwal (33), Virat Kohli (45) and Shteyas Iyer (27) perished after getting a start.
"You Know Your Place Isn't Secured When...": Gautam Gambhir Unhappy With India Player Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal has been in and out of the Indian Test team since making his debut in 2018. The right-handed opening batter had another opportunity to prove his worth, especially in the absence of KL Rahul, who is currently out of the team due to a hamstring injury. In the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka, Mayank opened the innings alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. Despite getting a good start, Mayank could only conjure 33 runs in the first innings.