IND vs SA: Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya entertain crowds in practice session with 'cracking hits'

Skipper Rishabh Pant will be aiming to settle scores in the upcoming second T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. India had a disappointing start to the five-match series as the Proteas managed to chase down a mammoth 212 with seven wickets in hand. Meanwhile, fans gathered in numbers to watch the practice session ahead of an important second T20I in Cuttack.

Usually, the practice sessions do not feature a lot of spectators. However, fans at the Barabati Stadium and were quite excited to watch the stars in practice. Such was the cheering up by the fans in the stadium watching the practice session that it gave the feel of a match day.

The BCCI posted a video of the skipper Pant and vice-captain Hardik Pandya getting throwdowns on a practice wicket and the duo played some cracking shots, which did earn a lot of applause from the crowd. Umran Malik also unleashed his rockets in the net sessions and there might be a case for him to be included for the second T20I after India’s poor bowling performance in the first game.

Here’s the video of Pant and Hardik’s cracking hits in the Practice session

🔊 Sound 🔛

Some cracking hits from the Captain and Vice-captain get the crowd going. 👌 👌#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @RishabhPant17 | @hardikpandya7 | @Paytm pic.twitter.com/JoRKKzwvpJ

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 11, 2022

Meanwhile, India on the back of Ishan Kishan’s 76 off 48 deliveries reached a magnificent total of 211 for 4 in their 20 overs in the first T20I in Delhi. All the batters got decent starts as well and Hardik Pandya gave the final kick to the innings with an unbeaten 12-ball 31.

The Proteas did lose a few wickets at the star, however, it was the duo of Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller that got the side home with a brutal partnership. Van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 75 while Miller’s 64 off 31 balls earned him the player of the match as South Africa won the game with five balls to spare. The last time India played South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in a T20I was in 2015 and it was the visitors who emerged victorious in that game.