Pant can’t be measured by numbers: Fans and pundits react to unlucky 99

The voice of Indian cricket fans and former greats echoed with sadness as Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 99 runs, missing out on a well-deserved century during Day 4 of India’s first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on October 19. Pant came in at number five in the morning, providing brisk support to Sarfaraz Khan, helping India attempt to salvage something miraculous after their disastrous 46 all-out in the first innings.
While the crowd at the M Chinnaswamy stadium cheered for Sarfaraz Khan’s well-fought century and subsequent 150-run milestone, Pant’s innings was a showcase of his usual attacking prowess. Despite falling just one run short of a century, dismissed by William O’Rourke, fans, pundits, and former players heaped praise on the 27-year-old for his fearless batting.
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Pant’s efforts were even more remarkable considering his injury earlier in the match, when he was struck on his recently recovered left knee during New Zealand’s innings, ruling him out of wicketkeeping duties. Despite this, both India captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir sent Pant to bat at number five after Virat Kohli’s dismissal on the last ball of Day 3. Though Pant showed some difficulty running between the wickets, he compensated with aggressive hitting, including a stunning 107-meter six off Tim Southee that hit the roof of the stadium.
This marked the seventh time Pant was dismissed in the 90s, further solidifying his reputation as a selfless and attacking batter. Fans rallied behind the wicketkeeper-batter, celebrating his contribution and focusing on his fearless approach rather than the missed century. For many, Pant’s innings was another example of why his impact on the game goes beyond mere numbers.