• Rishabh Pant's dismissal against South Africa in the final marked another instance of inconsistency in the T20 World Cup 2024.

  • After Pant got out, social media platforms were inundated with reactions from disappointed fans.

SA vs IND: Fans relentlessly troll Rishabh Pant for his disappointing batting display in the T20 World Cup 2024 final
Rishabh Pant (Image Source: Twitter)

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In the T20 World Cup 2024 final between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Barbados’ Bridgetown, Rishabh Pant‘s failure at the crease proved to be a pivotal moment for Team India’s batting aspirations.

India’s promising start dashed early

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first against South Africa, who were making their maiden appearance in a T20 World Cup final. The innings began with fireworks as Rohit and Virat Kohli aggressively smashed five boundaries in the opening over, setting a tone of dominance. However, the early optimism was abruptly halted when Rohit fell early, dismissed for just 9 runs by Keshav Maharaj in only the second over of the innings.

Rishabh Pant’s early dismissal rocks India in T20 World Cup final

Following Rohit’s dismissal, Pant strode to the crease with the responsibility to stabilize India’s innings alongside Kohli. Nevertheless, Pant’s tenure at the crease turned out to be disappointingly brief and eventful. He came in looking to assert himself, attempting a sweep shot off a low full-toss delivered by South African spinner Maharaj. Unfortunately, Pant mistimed the shot, resulting in a top edge that was easily gathered by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. With this, Pant was dismissed without contributing to India’s total, leaving the team in a precarious position early in the match.

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Social Media uproar Over Pant’s performance

In the aftermath of Pant’s dismissal, social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), exploded with criticism directed at the young wicketkeeper-batter. Fans and cricket enthusiasts expressed frustration and disappointment over Pant’s reckless shot selection, with many questioning his judgment in attempting such a risky shot against a spinner early in his innings. Others lamented his lack of game awareness and the potential impact of his dismissal on India’s chances in the final.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Virat Kohli leads recovery as India posts competitive total

After Pant’s dismissal for a duck, India faced early setbacks but recovered well. Kohli anchored the innings with a composed 76 off 59 balls, guiding India through the middle overs. Axar Patel played a crucial knock of 47 off 31 balls, stabilizing the innings and providing momentum with a strike rate of 151.61. Shivam Dube contributed a quickfire 27 off 16 balls, including three boundaries and a six, boosting India’s total. Hardik Pandya added a brisk 5 not out off just 2 balls at the end. Despite losing wickets at crucial junctures, India managed to post a competitive total of 176/7 in their 20 overs, showcasing a blend of steady partnerships and aggressive batting phases.

Also READ: Inzamam-ul-Haq loses cool after Rohit Sharma’s epic reply to ball-tampering allegations on Arshdeep Singh

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