Twitter erupts as Rishabh Pant smashes whirlwind fifty against England in the 2nd ODI

There is absolutely no stopping Rishabh Pant at the moment. After a tough 2020 that saw him lose his place in the playing eleven of the team across formats, Pant has started 2021 on a stunning note. He starred in the Test series against Australia and England. The form in the Tests saw him earn a recall from the T20I and the ODI teams for the ongoing series against England and he has made the most of it.

The southpaw registered decent scores in all the four T20Is he played before being benched for the first ODI. He earned a recall for the ongoing second ODI in absence of Shreyas Iyer and has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The ongoing second ODI was Pant’s first ODI since the one against New Zealand in February 2020 and he made the most of it.

India were in a precarious position when Pant came out to bat as they had just lost the wicket of skipper Virat Kohli with just 158 runs on the board in the 32nd over. From thereon, Pant played a blinder of an innings to lay the foundation for India’s big total. He slammed 77 off just 40 balls with the help of 3 fours and seven sixes to put India on top.

Rishabh Pant’s fiery fifty:

After starting cautiously, Rishabh Pant hit boundaries at regular intervals and took almost all the English bowlers to the cleaners to score his second ODI fifty in 17 games. It took him only 28 balls to reach his fifty. He also shared a 113-run stand with KL Rahul before returning to the pavilion in the 47th over.

After Pant’s departure, the Pandya brothers – Krunal and Hardik – played fine cameos to help India finish their inning on a mammoth 336 for 6. Apart from Pant, skipper Virat Kohli scored fifty too while Rahul top-scored with 108. Hardik, on the other hand, slammed 35 off just 16 balls while Krunal scored an unbeaten 12.

Leading the series 1-0, India will be looking to win the ongoing game to clinch the three-match series with a match remaining. Meanwhile, the cricketing fraternity was quick to praise Pant for his whirlwind innings.

Here are some of the reactions:

It's that time again. #RishabhPant #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/LeinYcvkTw

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2021

If you had to choose one player to leave the bar for right now mine would be @RishabhPant17 … he is absolutely fantastic to watch … #INDvsENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 26, 2021

Coach : It’s important while playing the big shots your head does not fall over and your body is perfectly balanced….Rishabh are you listening???

Student : Sir Rishabh is not here, he has gone to get something.#FindYourOwnWay

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 26, 2021

Pant. Quality.

Surely has to play every game for India going forward. No debate.

Match-winner!

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) March 26, 2021

I would honestly like to know which bowler would like to bowl to Pant, in this form? I don’t think that there would be any!!

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) March 26, 2021

Well played, Rishabh Pant – 77 runs from just 40 balls including 3 fours and 7 sixes – 54 runs through boundaries – Mad guy been consistent in all formats of the game. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/4sShz1jrx7

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021

What a knock by Rishabh Pant, scored his highest ever One Day score. 77 in just 40 balls, the carnage he creates with his batting is simply magnificent. pic.twitter.com/WfZfJ5MB1q

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 26, 2021

Another remarkable knock from Rishabh Pant. His innings had an Attack Rating of 167 – since 2006, there have only been six Indian half-centuries with a higher Attack Rating. Destructive hitting from the 23 year old. #INDvENG

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 26, 2021

Pant did that so the brothers could bat together.

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 26, 2021

Any time Rishabh Pant hits a six I get that tune in my head and sing ‘he’ll hit you for a six’. Anyone else? 😂 #INDvENG

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 26, 2021

That mini helicopter from rishabh pant #rishabhpant #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/BYDkKRKRTG

— Rishabh Pant (@_Rishabpant) March 20, 2021

Rishabh Pant has hit 24 sixes in this year and we are just into 3rd month of 2021.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021

Well, power-packed performance from @imVkohli and a classic knock by @klrahul11 took away my quarantine blues! @RishabhPant17 you are a playing some sensational innings brother! More to come ❤️ #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ahXyPfhIlA

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 26, 2021