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NEW DELHI: Swashbuckling Rishabh Pant on Saturday agonizingly missed out on a well-deserved century by just 1 run in the second innings against New Zealand on Day 4 of the first Test in Bengaluru.
Pant, who was at his absolute best throughout the day, looked all set for his 7th Test ton but eventually fell for 99 in a heart-wrenching moment.
The Pant dismissal took place in the 89th over of the innings when a short of length ball from William ORourke kicked up and surprised Pant as he was forced into defending it.
As he managed to keep the ball down, it hit the splice of the bat and crashed into his leg stump, ending a terrific knock from the 27-year-old.
With the unfortunate dismissal on 99, Pant now is third on the list of Indian batters to be dismissed most times in 90s in Tests — 7 times.
Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed in the 90s 10 times in his Test career while former India coach Rahul Dravid was dismissed 9 times. Sunil Gavaskar, MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag were dismissed 5 times each in the 90s in the longest format.
As Pant fell short of a ton by just a solitary run, he also became the only fourth wicketkeeper-batter to be dismissed on 99 in Tests.
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) vs Sri Lanka, Napier, 2005
MS Dhoni (India) vs England, Nagpur, 2012
Jonny Bairstow (England) vs South Africa, Old Trafford, 2017
Rishabh Pant (India) vs New Zealand, Bengaluru, 2024
Earlier, on a day marred by a long rain delay, Pant sizzled with a stroke-filled 99-run knock that came off just 105 deliveries.
After being hit on the right knee on the second day and subsequently missing out the entire third day with the injury, Pant came in on Day 4 alongside Sarfaraz and looked in control for the most of his innings.
With the help of 9 fours and 5 sixes, Pant took apart the Kiwi bowlers one after another and cut down India’s second biggest deficit of 356 runs in a home Test match.
Sharing an incredible 177-run stand with a ton-up Sarfaraz Khan (150) for the fourth wicket, Pant played one of the finest knocks of his Test career.
Both Pant and Sarfaraz took India into lead before the Kiwis bounced back with quick wickets late in the second session.
India were 438 for 6 at Tea on Day 4, leading New Zealand by 82 runs.
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