Rishabh Pant's football skills steal show during India vs SL warm-up - Watch
Rishabh Pant displayed unique football skills during India's warm-up match against Sri Lanka. He used his feet to kick wide deliveries away instead of his bat. Pant took twenty-one balls to score his first run in the second innings. After a slow start, he changed gears and hit three sixes. India won the warm-up game by six wickets before the Test series.
Delhi witnessed an unusual display of skill on the cricket field during India's warm-up game against Sri Lanka. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took fans by surprise when he abandoned his traditional bat and replaced it with his feet. During the second innings of the match, Pant kicked away deliveries that went wide of the crease, catching the attention of spectators and circulating on social media in no time.
Pant got off to a slow start in his return innings, taking 21 balls to get going. His cautious approach even caught head coach Gautam Gambhir off guard, who was present in the dressing room. However, Pant soon discovered his rhythm and resumed his aggressive batting style. He struck three sixes in succession, showcasing his attacking prowess against Sri Lankan bowlers Keshav Nuwanta and Dilum Sudheera.
Sudheera tried to curb Pant's aggression by bowling deliveries outside the off stump, aiming to restrict his powerful shots. But Pant remained unfazed. Instead of backing away, he resorted to his unique habit of kicking the ball away, much like a football player. This unexpected move elicited laughter from the crowd, further highlighting the entertaining spectacle he created on the cricket field.
In the end, India emerged victorious in the warm-up game by six wickets, providing the team with crucial match practice before the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The first Test of the two-match series is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle, while the final Test will commence on August 23 in Colombo.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
