'Great intent shown' - Twitter annoyed with Rishabh Pant's yet another failure against New Zealand

Rishabh Pant has got an opportunity to don the gloves in the ongoing second T20I between New Zealand and India the Bay Oval. It is to be noted that he and Sanju Samson were selected as the first-choice wicketkeepers for this series.

The 25-year-old yet again showcased a dismal batting performance as he managed only six runs to his name and that too by consuming 13 balls at a strike rate of 46.2. He was dismissed in the sixth over when he was caught by Tim Southee off Lockie Ferguson.

Meanwhile, it needs to be noted that Pant is also the stand-in vice-captain and therefore, his inclusion in the playing XI was a no-brainer. However, Pant’s long-time competitor for the limited-overs stumper’s slot Samson has not been selected in the playing XI. However, another wicketkeeping specialist Ishan Kishan got a chance to feature in the second game.

Rishabh Pant looking to prove a point in the T20I series against New Zealand

This year Rishabh Pant did look in splendid touch while batting in Tests and One Day Internationals. Unfortunately for him, that was not the case in T20Is where he just could not make an impact with his gifted power-hitting techniques.

Despite being promoted up the order as an opener in some matches earlier this year, the southpaw failed to make it matter and even though he showcased forgettable batting performances in the Asia Cup 2022 especially in the Super 4 fixtures against Pakistan, and, Sri Lanka, Pant still managed to find a place in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup 2022 squad.

In the showpiece tournament, the Delhi cricketer warmed the bench for most of the games and only got a chance in India’s final Super 12 fixture against Zimbabwe. Even there, he failed as he scored a painstaking three runs off five deliveries.

In the semifinal against England at the Adelaide Oval, the team management decided to include Pant as a keeper-batter ahead of an off-colored Dinesh Karthik. Nonetheless, the promising cricketer misfired yet again in a crucial fixture and was run out for just six.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

Great intent shown by Indian opners post T20 Worldcup disaster.

Rishabh Pant : 6 runs off 13 balls.
Ishan Kishan : 36 runs off 31 balls.

42 runs in power play. Out of which 10 runs were extras. #INDvsNZ #INDvNZ

— Ravi (@Ravi_Tweets_) November 20, 2022

Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant are lefty Rahul and Rohit. No change in approach. Kuch nahi badalne wala.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣#INDvsNZ #RishabhPant#ishankishan #crickettwitter https://t.co/Ltfo6kIBnM

— Atif (@AmaanAtif_27) November 20, 2022

@bcci will fail again in word cup if they don't change their mindset. They must understand that rishabh pant is not a t20 batsman. He is only for test match.

— Kangkan Dek (@DekKangkan) November 20, 2022

As long as our batters (except SKY) are cautious about their average and place in the side, they’ll NEVER excel.. 🤦🏼‍♀️#NZvsIND #RishabhPant #ishankishan

— Jaishree Rathod (She/Her/Hers) (@Alley_Cricketer) November 20, 2022

Pathetic selection.... Why on earth Rishabh Pant continues to be in the T20i team and that too now vice captain ? Why Sanju Samson can't be picked ? Is Samson a better T20 batsman or Pant ? Has Pant got more chances than Samson in t20is ? This is ridiculous selection.

— Sandeep Bhardwaj (@SBhardwaj2580) November 20, 2022

Rishabh Pant used to play T20 Cricket in Test matches💔#INDvNZ #NZvsIND

— Muhammad Noman (@nomanedits) November 20, 2022

Sanju samson 2nd best hitter
Rishabh pant no 1 joker ,😡😡😡🤬🤬😡😡🤬😡😡😠😠🤬😡😠😠

— Santosh Sahani (@Santosh93357327) November 20, 2022

Why @RishabhPant17 and @BhuviOfficial given so many chances? Pant can't play well in T20 and Bhuvi is useless in Pressure games where ball does not swing #INDvsNZ why no Umran Malik ?

— Satish Solunke (@DnASatish) November 20, 2022