• Rishabh Pant fell short of his century by a solitary run on Day 4 of the Bengaluru Test.

  • Pant and Sarfaraz Khan produced a blazing partnership to give India a solid fightback,

IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant misses century by a whisker; fans call him a ‘Nervous 90s Victim’
Rishabh Pant dismissed for 99 in 1st Test (Image Source: X)

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On Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan produced a blazing partnership, adding 177 runs for the fourth wicket. Their effort gave India a solid fightback, putting pressure on the Black Caps’ bowlers. While Sarfaraz converted his maiden century into 150, he was eventually dismissed, leaving the spotlight on Pant as he approached his own hundred.

Rishabh Pant’s confident approach ends in disappointment

As Pant entered the 90s, fans could sense his confidence when he smashed a massive six, hinting that he was unperturbed by the nervousness often associated with reaching a century. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred after Tim Southee switched the bowling and brought William O’Rourke into the attack.

On the very first ball of the 89th over in India’s second innings, Pant dragged the ball onto his stumps, falling agonizingly short at 99. The ball kicked up from a short length, surprising Pant on the defense. It hit the splice of his bat and crashed into the stumps, shattering his hopes of a brilliant hundred. The stadium was left in shock, with fans recovering from the unexpected dismissal to give Pant a standing ovation. The Indian dressing room also showed visible disappointment over the narrow miss.

Fans label pant as ‘Nervous 90s’ victim

Soon after his dismissal, social media erupted with reactions. Many fans expressed their disappointment, suggesting that Pant had fallen victim to the ‘nervous 90s’ — a term famously linked to former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Notably, this was the seventh instance in Test cricket where Pant was dismissed in the 90s, placing him among the Indian players most affected by this phenomenon.

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ – Rishabh Pant launches a colossal six off Tim Southee on Day 4 of the first Test

Most Dismissals in 90s in Tests for India:

  • 10 – Sachin Tendulkar
  • 9 – Rahul Dravid
  • 7 – Rishabh Pant
  • 5 – Sunil Gavaskar
  • 5 – MS Dhoni
  • 5 – Virender Sehwag

Here is how fans reacted:

https://x.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1847578381262401713

Also READ : IND vs NZ: Fans go crazy as Sarfaraz Khan hits his maiden hundred on Day 4 of the Bengaluru Test

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About the Author:
AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.