Watch: Retired hurt on Day 1, Pant returns to smash 95m six and damage solar panel
Pant, who had retired hurt on the opening day after being struck on his left arm, resumed his innings after Saransh Jain was dismissed early on Monday. He joined Dhruv Jurel as India looked to build a competitive first-innings total.
Rishabh Pant made an impressive return to the middle on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, immediately leaving a significant impact on the game. The retired hurt batter had initially withdrawn from the first day's play after being struck on his left arm. Pant resumed his innings alongside Dhruv Jurel as India aimed to establish a competitive total in the first innings.
Sri Lanka's pacers posed a challenge to Pant, relentlessly testing him with short-pitched deliveries. Before the drinks break, the Indian batter faced a few blows on his shoulder. However, Pant's resilience shone through as he delivered a remarkable performance after the interval. In the 90th over, Pant executed a powerful shot that traveled 95 meters, striking a solar panel on the stadium roof and causing damage.
The six run hit not only showcased Pant's powerful batting skills but also added to his impressive tally of big hits. He had been batting on 63 at the time of the incident, pushing towards his 21st Test half-century. Pant's performance earned him the distinction of being India's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests, surpassing the record set by MS Dhoni.
With his current contribution, Pant has crossed the 2,500-run mark in such Tests at an average of 41.68, leaving Farokh Engineer and Syed Kirmani behind in the list.
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