IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant smashes 50; fans say only he can save Team India from whitewash

While all the other Indian batters failed to even score in double digits, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant scored a quick fifty off 48 balls against New Zealand during the third and final Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Given Pant's current form, fans are hoping he and his batting partner Washington Sundar can stick together and secure the remaining 55 runs needed to win the game.

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Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) have expressed that Pant is the only saving grace for India after the "pathetic" batting display the Men in Blue showed in Mumbai. They hope he can save India from a whitewash series at home.

Rishabh Pant, Please Save us Today 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/h7PsxRRycK

— Rishabh Pant FC (@Pantasticman) November 3, 2024

Rishabh Pant is surpassing the legacies of the seniors in his team alongwith saving their careers ever since he made his debut. Best wicketkeeper batter in tests since Gilchrist. pic.twitter.com/f3H5WgGD3I

— 🖤 (@ameye_17) November 3, 2024

Nothing just Rishabh pant saving India in test cricket for the nth time pic.twitter.com/3Z6ylCpUxv

— Priyanshu (@Priyans_17) November 3, 2024

Rishabh Pant: the fearless wicketkeeper who thrives under pressure, whether at Gabba or Wankhede. He doesn’t sweat technique or risks; he just fights for India. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/wJqp68QJoO

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) November 3, 2024

As of now, 20 overs were bowled with India scoring 92 runs and losing 6 wickets. Skipper Rohit Sharma scored 11 off 11 balls, Shubman Gill made 1 off 4, Virat Kohli managed just 1 off 7, Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed 5 off 16, Sarfaraz Khan fell for 1 off 2, and Ravindra Jadeja added 6 off 22. Notably, Kohli's 5 runs is his lowest aggregate in a Test where he batted twice, and his 13 balls faced is the joint lowest for him in a Test where he batted in both innings.

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Earlier in the morning, India wrapped up New Zealand's innings quickly, taking just 14 balls to claim the final wicket. So far, after 8 overs, India has scored 31 runs and lost 5 wickets, needing 116 runs to win. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are at the crease, and fans are hoping these two can stabilize the innings.

Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William ORourke

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj