Indian cricket team wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is known for his witty comments from behind the stumps and his hilarious comment on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Thursday has once again gone viral. With Devon Conway having a strong performance against the Indian bowlers, Pant decided to boost the team's morale with a brilliant 'body language' comment. When Ravichandran Ashwin was bowling, he was caught on the stump mic saying, “Come on, don't be loose, body language will have to be raised brothers.”
Rishabh Pant behind the stumps:
“Come on, don't be loose, you will have to improve your body language, brothers.” pic.twitter.com/rOkJXHlskY
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 24 October 2024
Half-centuries from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra cost them, however, timely wickets of spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar gave the hosts the momentum back at tea time.
At the end of the second session, New Zealand's score was 201/5, with Daryl Mitchell (16*) unbeaten.
New Zealand began the second session at 92/2, with Conway (47*) and Rachin Ravindra (5*) remaining unbeaten.
Conway attacked Jasprit Bumrah in the very first over of the session and hit three fours. He completed his second half-century of the series in 109 balls with the help of six fours.
With the help of Conway's excellent boundaries, New Zealand reached the 100-run mark in 31.4 overs.
Conway continued to face the Indian bowling with confidence and great flair, giving Rachin ample time to settle down. However, their 62-run partnership ended with Ravichandran Ashwin dismissing Conway for 76 off 141 balls with the help of 11 fours. New Zealand's score was 138/3 in 43.2 overs.
Daryl Mitchell joined Rachin at the crease. New Zealand crossed 150 runs in 48.1 overs thanks to a six hit by Rachin against Ravindra Jadeja over long on.
Rachin continued his brilliant performance in Test cricket and completed his fourth half-century in 93 balls with the help of three fours and a six.
After reaching his half-century, Rachin started to look even more dangerous, hitting two fours against Akash Deep, who was taking a day off due to a poor economy rate.
Washington Sundar dismissed Rachin for 65 runs in 105 balls with the help of five fours and a six. At the end of a 59-run partnership between Rachin and Mitchell, New Zealand were 197/4 in 59.1 overs.
New Zealand crossed 200 runs in 61.3 overs. A quick, turning delivery from Sundar dismissed Tom Blundell for three. At the tea break, New Zealand's score was 201/5.
Earlier, Ashwin struck twice while Conway braved the world-class Indian bowling in a tied first session on Thursday on the first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
New Zealand's score at the end of the first session was 92/2, with Conway (47*) and Ravindra (5*) unbeaten.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, with openers captain Tom Latham and Devon Conway giving the Kiwis a cautious start.
At the start of the innings, Latham and Conway handled Akash's pace well, making him the primary target with four classy fours. Jasprit Bumrah, on the other hand, was really economical.
Things changed with the introduction of spin. Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Latham LBW for 15 runs in 22 balls in his very first over. There were two fours in his innings. Kiwi team's score was 39/1 in 7.5 overs. Latham continued his poor form against Ashwin and was dismissed by him for the ninth time in 11 innings, in which he has scored just 128 runs against the veteran at a poor average of 14.22.
Will Young joined Conway and New Zealand reached the 50-run mark in 15.1 overs.
Both were building a partnership while facing the tight bowling of the spin trio of Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. However, Young gave away a wicket to Rishabh Pant, giving Ashwin his second wicket. New Zealand's score was 76/2 in 24 overs, Young was out after scoring 18 runs in 45 balls.
Conway and Rachin Ravindra took New Zealand through the remainder of the first session without any further loss.
(With ANI inputs)
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