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    India Women to Play One-Off Test Against England, Jay Shah Confirms

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    India Women cricket team
    India Women cricket team

    BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced that the Team India women would play a one-off Test against the England women cricket team and the match would be played later in the year.

    India Women set to play Test vs England

    He tweeted: “On the occasion of #InternationalWomensDay, I’m pleased to announce that #TeamIndia @BCCIWomen will play a one-off Test match against @ECB_cricket later this year. The women in blue will be donning the whites again.”

    The date and the venue are not yet confirmed, but this is being acquired as the main step towards promoting women’s cricket in the country. The Indian women cricket crew reached the very last of the T20 World Cup earlier in 2020 in Australia. finally, in the finals of the T20 Women’s WC, they lost to the hosts.

    ICC Expands Women’s WC

    Not just the BCCI, looking to promote the women’s game, on International Women’s Day, the world body of cricket the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the expansion of women’s cricket events post the 2023 cycle.

    The ICC tournaments for women cricketers will have more teams from 2026 onwards with the governing body announcing its expansion plan for the game to mark international women’s day.

    ICC said the T20 World Cup will have 12 teams instead of 10 from the 2026 edition. The ODI World Cup will also be expanded from eight teams to 10 from the 2029 edition.

    “More teams will compete in both the Women’s World Cup and the Women’s T20 World Cup from 2026 onwards as part of the ICC’s long-term commitment to growing the game globally and in a sustainable fashion,” ICC stated in a media release.

    Also read: SCG Plans to House the First Woman Cricketer Statue

    Ganguly Names Rishabh Pant as the Match Winner For THIS Reason

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    Rishabh Pant with Sourav Ganguly
    Rishabh Pant with Sourav Ganguly

    Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly names Rishabh Pant as the next match-winner for team India. BCCI President Ganguly feels that Rishabh Pant possesses traits similar to Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, and MS Dhoni and hailed him as the “game-changer”.

    Current Indian test wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant comes into the spotlight after his impressive performance in the last two test series. Pant’s knocks were the game-changer at some point which helps India to clitch the victory.

    Ganguly Praises Rishabh Pant

    Ganguly, who was a part of the Delhi Capitals’ coaching staff in 2019, has worked closely with the young southpaw. Former Indian skipper explained how Pant’s batting skills are on an upward curve since the Tour to Australia.

    Rishabh Pant
    Rishabh Pant

    “I have seen Pant very closely and I believe in match-winners. When they get going on their day, they single-handedly can win matches. Rishabh Pant is such a player,” Ganguly told India Today.

    “I have also said this in the past, had he stayed at the crease for 5 or 6 overs, India could have won the Sydney Test. He is a game-changer. I like match-winners. In my time, we had Sehwag, Yuvraj, Dhoni.”

    Rishabh Pant had a tough 2020 as he was dropped from the limited-overs format and was substituted for Wriddhiman Saha in the Indian Test squad due to a string of poor performances on the ground.

    However, after a disappointing loss against Australia in Adelaide after Virat and Co. were bowled out for record low 36, Pant was played in the XI for the Boxing Day Test match where the young wicketkeeper left his mark.

    At some stage in the third Test at the SCG, Pant nearly gained the game for India after generating a stable knock of 97 runs even as chasing an immense total of 407 runs.

    And the young wicketkeeper’s 89 runs inside the fourth test at Gabba helped India breach the Australian fortress as Rahane and Co. sealed the series.

    Pant’s chic form endured all through the England test as he scored ninety-one runs inside the first match despite the fact that India lost. But, Pant’s great knock came inside the fourth test on the Narendra Modi Stadium as the southpaw smashed a ton and helped India take a sizeable lead despite a terrible start.

    Rishabh Pant
    Rishabh Pant

    “Look at the way he played against England. India were 146 for 6 (4th Test in Ahmedabad). The match could have gone anyway. He turned it around with his knock. Look at his game sense. The second new ball came in. His counterattack against Anderson was brilliant,” Ganguly added.

    Former Indian Cricketer Deep Dasgupta Heap Praised Rishabh Pant

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    Deep Dasgupta
    Deep Dasgupta

    Former Indian cricketer Deep Dasgupta said that Rishabh Pant is enjoying his cricket after having worked hard to get the desired results.

    Deep Dasgupta praises Rishabh Pant

    He continued the momentum against England at home, leaving the fans and cricket experts stunned with the kind of game he played. With 270 runs to his credit, Pant ended the four-match series as the third-highest run-getter after visiting skipper Joe Root (368) and Rohit Sharma (345).

    Pant’s dynamic comeback delighted former Indian stumper Deep Dasgupta. In a conversation with Sports Today, Dasgupta said that the young lad from Delhi is enjoying his cricket after having worked hard to get the desired results.

    “He is enjoying his cricket a lot more. Even when he is talking about the game, that pure love, passion, and enjoyment for the game are evident.” Dasgupta said.

    Rishabh Pant
    Rishabh Pant

    “Maybe a year ago, he was not doing it. That happens, that happens with everyone. I mean, I have felt it myself. Suddenly when there is a lot of criticism, you stop enjoying the game and forget the reason for why you’re playing the game at all. And I think Rishabh, when I look at him, that enjoyment factor is so much there. He is having fun.

    “That doesn’t mean he is not working. He has worked very hard. Two things stood out for me. One with his keeping, he has made a few changes,” the former cricketer added.

    Dasgupta further pointed out the technical changes made by Pant in his batting as well as wicketkeeping adding that the amendments have made the youngster consistent in the longest format.

    “We have mentioned this before, about collecting the ball beside the body and being a lot more stable in his stance.

    “As far his batting is concerned, we have always mentioned he is a potential match-winner. The biggest issue was choosing the right ball and the right bowler. His shot selection and his ball selection has improved drastically in the last couple of series. Especially this hundred he got, he got his first 50 in 82 balls, he has understood that in Test match cricket, there is nothing called natural game,” said Dasgupta.

    Will IPL 2021 Played Behind Closed Doors?, Ganguly Answers

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    Sourav Ganguly
    Sourav Ganguly

    Former India captain and the current president of the BCCI Sourav Ganguly has indicated that allowing crowds in the IPL 2021 would have been a bigger logistical issue compared to letting in limited fans during the recently-concluded Test series versus England.

    Ganguly on allowing crowds in IPL 2021

    The BCCI has announced that no crowds will be allowed at the venues “Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad” where the matches will be played with no home games for any franchise.

    “We have planned it well and we are doing it in clusters. There will be three chartered flights (at the max) for every team. Hopefully, we will be able to manage”.

    “During England tour, teams have only two domestic chartered flights (Chennai to Ahmedabad and next will be Ahmedabad to Pune),” Ganguly told the India Today channel.

    “The numbers are much less but fingers crossed as it’s a huge tournament, the BCCI did it successfully in Dubai and hopefully, we can do it this time as well,” he added.

    He didn’t say when would the BCCI consider having crowds back for IPL. “Don’t know yet, depends on the situation. Dubai also was the same,” he said, referring to the 2020 IPL in the UAE.

    “It’s slightly different from bilateral. If you open up for the crowd (in IPL) with teams practicing outside the stadiums, you expect crowds to get closer to practicing teams during IPL, so that could be a risk,” Ganguly said, with a note of caution.

    Ganguly, who is still resting at his Kolkata residence post his angioplasty after minor heart attacks, knows how there has been speculation of him joining politics, ahead of the eight-phase elections from March 27 to April 29.

    “We will see where it goes, what opportunities come in the way, we will take it from there,” Ganguly said when asked what’s next after cricket administration.

    Ganguly said his life has been full of surprising twists and turns and he has never really had a clue about what’s coming next for him. “When I first became India captain, I didn’t expect it as Sachin Tendulkar was captaining. I probably wouldn’t have got it had Sachin not resigned.

    Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar
    Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar

    “Similarly, when I became BCCI president, I didn’t know the minute before I would be the BCCI president. That’s the way my life has been…So we will see where it goes,” he said.

    According to him, opportunities need to be considered factoring in various aspects of someone’s life.

    “Opportunities come and you get influenced by a lot of things, your family, lifestyle, work, health, we will see where it goes,” he didn’t give away anything despite saying a lot of things.

    New Zealand Skipper Kane Williamson Skips Bangladesh ODI Series

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    Kane Williamson
    Kane Williamson

    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is set to miss the upcoming 3-match ODI series against Bangladesh due to a left elbow injury.

    Kane Williamson skips Bangladesh ODI Series

    The 30-year-old, who is a regular for his team in all the 3 formats of the game, has a small tear in his left elbow tendon. New Zealand Cricket medical manager Dayle Shackel has said that Kane Williamson’s injury needs a period of rest and rehabilitation for improvement.

    “Kane’s been managing the elbow injury to varying degrees this summer and unfortunately it hasn’t improved,” Shackel said. “He obviously has a high volume of training and playing across the three formats, which has inhibited his ability to recover.

    Kane Williamson
    Kane Williamson

    “We believe he now needs a period of rest and rehabilitation to get the injury right.

    “Time-frames can vary, but we’re hopeful that, after an initial rest, he should be able to begin rehabilitation next week,” Shackel said. The team’s head coach Gary Stead said it was a blow to lose the “class” and “leadership” of Kane Williamson but knew it was the right call.

    “Kane loves playing for his country – so it hasn’t been an easy decision to step back.

    “A batsman’s front elbow is crucial to his game and with the injury not improving it was clear something needed to be done.

    “We’ve got a huge year of cricket ahead with an England Test tour and ICC World Test Championship Final first up in May and June, and we want to make sure we have Kane fit and firing for that.

    “We will certainly miss his class and leadership in the upcoming Bangladesh series, but his omission will no doubt present an opportunity for someone else when the ODI squad is named,” Stead said.

    Williamson was part of all 5 matches of the recently-concluded T20I series against Australia. Williamson registered scores of 12, 53, 9, 8, and 0 as New Zealand won the series 3-2.

    The ODI series against Bangladesh will kickstart in Dunedin from March 20. The two teams will also play a 3-match T20I series starting March 28.

    Also read: New Zealand Registered their Name in the World Test Championship Finals

    SCG Plans to House the First Woman Cricketer Statue

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    sydney cricket ground
    sydney cricket ground

    It’s raining announcement on the International Women’s Day for the women’s game as this time Cricket Australia chooses to challenge the norms. CA, on the occasion of the special day, has announced that the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will house the first statue of a woman cricketer in the country.

    Woman cricketer Statue at SCG

    According to CA, there are 73 statues and sculptures of cricketers around the country and there’s one thing common in all of them, all are of male cricket players, not a single one of them is a female cricket player. To address the gender imbalance in the public eye for women’s games, Cricket Australia has taken a huge step.

    Speaking on the same the CA interim CEO Nick Hockley said, “Just as this year’s International Women’s Day theme promotes ‘choose to challenge’, we are committed to challenging ourselves to continue to address gender inequality across our game. Precisely one year ago to the day, we were celebrating a ground-breaking moment when 86,174 fans packed out the MCG for the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

    “So many challenges have been presented since that day, and it is now more important than ever that we keep pushing for equality in cricket and keep building the momentum established before the pandemic.

    “This is a historic moment for the game with Venues NSW today committing to the first sculpture of a female cricketer at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and we can’t thank Kerrie and her team enough for their leadership.

    For the same, the CA has formed a new working committee to address the imbalance, not just limited to the statutes but all the areas of the women’s sport.

    Australian team’s vice-captain Rachael Haynes, journalist Angela Pippos, former Australian cricketer and Hall of Famer Lisa Sthalekar, and Bradman Museum executive director Rina Hore, along with CA Interim CEO Nick Hockley, are among the nine members who form a part of the ‘Recognition of Women in Cricket Working Group’.

    Also read: ICC Announces Expansion of Women’s Cricket World Cup 

    ICC Announces Expansion of Women’s Cricket World Cup 

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    Australia Womens T20 World cup

    The International Cricket Council(ICC), on Monday (March 8), announced the expansion of Women’s World Cup post the 2023 event, with more teams participating in both the 50-over and T20 World Cups from 2026 onwards.

    ICC Expands Women’s World Cup 

    The decision seeks to encourage more teams to compete on the global stage and provide member nations with an incentive to grow the game domestically.

    The World Cup will have 10 teams playing 48 matches from 2029 (up from eight teams, and 31 matches, till 2025), the T20 World Cup will be expanded to 12 teams playing a total of 33 matches from 2026 (up from 10 teams, and 23 matches, till 2024). The Women’s T20 Champions Cup is set to take place in 2027 and 2031, with six teams playing 16 matches.

    These tournaments are part of 20 global tournaments planned for both men’s and women’s cricket combined in the 2023-31 cycle. Bids for hosting the events will soon be open to the ICC’s member countries.

    According to ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney, the revised formats would also mean more teams will be able to compete in and gain vital exposure in the qualification tournaments – the Women’s Championship, World Cup Qualifier and the T20 Qualifier.

    “This decision to expand our women’s events … allows us to give more member countries greater opportunities to compete on a global stage,” Sawhney said. “This means that more teams will also get the opportunity to compete in the qualification pathways for the respective ICC events over the coming years. I am sure these initiatives will go a long way in helping us achieve our strategic goal of continuing to build strength and depth in the women’s game.

    “We have a clear focus and commitment to an ambitious long-term growth plan for the women’s game. We have been building momentum around the women’s game for the last four years investing in global broadcast coverage and marketing to drive fan engagement.”

    In 2000, the number of competing teams at the Women’s World Cup was fixed at eight, while the T20 World Cup expanded from eight to 10 teams in 2014.

    Also read: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Winners List Since 1973

    Former Indian Cricketer Harbhajan Singh Backs Wriddhiman Saha

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    Wriddhiman Saha
    Wriddhiman Saha

    Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh still suggests Wriddhiman Saha as India’s second-best choice wicketkeeper after Rishabh Pant.

    Harbhajan said that Saha is a ‘safe keeper and has very good hands’ and also added that Saha has been with the team for a long time.

    Harbhajan Singh Backs Wriddhiman Saha

    “It is a difficult choice but if I have to choose, I will stick with Wriddhiman Saha. He has been with the team for a long time. He is a very safe keeper and has very good hands. Rishabh Pant has grown in stature, not only as a batsman but as a keeper as well and will keep improving as he keeps on playing.”

    “I feel for some time Wriddhiman Saha will have to be kept along with the team. I agree he is 35 years old but the sort of fitness he has, I feel he is still better than most of the youngsters. It is good that we have quite a few options – we have KL Rahul and the bold Ishan Kishan,” Harbhajan said on the Star Sports network.

    Harbhajan Praises Pant

    When pointed out that with Pant in the playing XI, Team India has often been able to play five bowlers, but with Saha playing that’s not been the case, the off-spinner added that in such a scenario, Ishan Kishan can also be trained for the Team India role.

    Rishabh Pant
    Rishabh Pant

    “If you watch closely, Rishabh Pant provides the balance to the team which allows you to play five bowlers because he is a proper batsman. But when you look towards Wriddhi, the captain is not that confident of playing five bowlers.

    “If the thinking is like that, then I feel Ishan Kishan can be a very good choice because he is a strong batsman and a match-winner. He is also a similar kind of player who plays shots and keeps well also,” Harbhajan added.

    Sunil Gavaskar Breaks Silence on Dropping Kapil Dev in 1984 Kolkata Test

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    Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar

    Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who has completed 50 years in cricket, has cleared the air on the heavily controversial topic of dropping Kapil Dev for the 1984 Kolkata Test against England.

    A controversial moment happens in 1984 when the 1983-World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev was dropped from the team for the Kolkata Test against England.

    Sunil Gavaskar on Dropping Kapil Dev

    Under Gavaskar’s leadership, India went on to win the game by 8 wickets. Back then, it was reported that Kapil was dropped by Gavaskar due to his poor performances.

    On being asked about the same in a recent interaction, Gavaskar said that it was ‘a myth that has been spread’ for a long time.

    “As far as Kapil Dev is concerned, this has been something a myth that has been spread for a long, long time. I did not propose dropping Kapil Dev. I was part of the selection committee as the Indian captain and as the Indian captain, I can join the selection committee I do not have a voting right. I’m just co-opted to the selection committee. The proposed action to drop Kapil there was proposed by somebody else, another selector,” Gavaskar told Sports Today.

    Kapil Dev
    Kapil Dev

    “So, I have to only say one thing that I might be a lot of things I might be whatever, but I’m not stupid to drop my only match-winner. To propose dropping my only match-winner? How could I have even…. How can anybody even think that! Am I that stupid to think in terms of dropping my match-winner?” he questioned.

    Gavaskar said that a lot has been spoken about his relationship with Kapil Dev but the two share a mutual respect for each other.

    “Yes, there was there were all kinds of canards being spread around that time about the relationship between Kapil and myself. We are we have always had a relationship of mutual respect. It still is one of mutual respect.

    His circle of friends was different. He was 10 years younger than me his circle of friends even now is different. But that doesn’t mean that you know, we don’t like each other or whatever it is, it was just spread and sadly it has remained much in the same case that there is talk about two of our stalwarts in the current Indian team as well as that they don’t get along,” Gavaskar said.

    “We don’t know the story, but it is something because cricket is such a popular game in India, people like to spread stories like this. So, the thing about Kapil’s dropping is yes being part of the selection committee, collective responsibility. Yes, that way I am also to be blamed but I did not propose dropping a couple of days for the next Test,” he signed off.

    Gavaskar was the first batsman to cross the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, had lead India across format from 1976 to 1985.

    Also read: Kapil Dev Praises Virat Kohli and Shared Interesting Incidents from his Life

    Sachin Tendulkar Suggest Dhoni as Next Skipper, Says Sharad Pawar

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    Sachin Tendulkar and Dhoni

    Former BCCI president Sharad Pawar revealed the exact scenario when Sachin Tendulkar names MS Dhoni to be the next Indian skipper.

    Sachin Tendulkar suggests MS Dhoni to be the next leader

    Sharad Pawar, while addressing a public meeting on Sunday, revealed that Tendulkar had suggested MS Dhoni’s name for India limited-overs captaincy in 2007 when Rahul Dravid wanted to give up the role.

    “I remember India had gone to England in 2007. At that time, Rahul Dravid was the captain. I was there in England then and Dravid came to meet me. He told me how he no longer wanted to lead India. He told me how the captaincy was affecting his batting. Later He told me that he should be relieved from the captaincy. I then asked Sachin Tendulkar to lead the side, but he refused the role,” Pawar said.

    “I told Sachin that if both of you and Dravid do not want to lead the side, how will we go about things? Then Sachin told me that we have one more player in the country who could lead the side and his name is none other than MS Dhoni. After that, we gave the leadership to Dhoni,” he added.

    Dhoni as Indian skipper

    In 2007, under Rahul Dravid’s leadership, India was knocked out of the 50-over World Cup in the group stages and the side was subjected to severe criticism. In the same year, Dhoni was named as skipper for the T20 World Cup and later on, he went on to lead the country in both ODIs and Tests.

    Dhoni became India’s Test captain in 2008 and led India to the No. 1 spot on ICC Test Rankings.

    Under Dhoni, India won the 2011 World Cup at home, the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. With India winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 in England, Dhoni became the first and is still the only captain to date to have won all three ICC Trophies.

    In December 2014, he announced his retirement from Tests and gave a chance to the likes of Wriddhiman Saha. The former India skipper gave up the limited-overs captaincy in 2017 and continued playing under Virat Kohli until 2019. Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020.

    Dhoni represented as captain in 200 ODIs out of the 350 he played while he led India in 60 Tests and 72 T20Is. MSD has 195 international stumpings, the most by any wicket-keeper. Dhoni played 350 ODIs with his highest score being 183 against Sri Lanka.

    Shahid Afridi’s Daughter to be Engaged to Shaheen Shah Afridi

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    Shaheen Shah Afridi set to tie the knot with Shahid Afridi's Daughter
    Shaheen Shah Afridi set to tie the knot with Shahid Afridi's Daughter

    Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Sunday confirmed that his daughter is getting engaged to current national team pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    Shaheen Shah Afridi set to tie the knot with Shahid Afridi’s Daughter

    Afridi said that Shaheen’s family had made a formal approach asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

    “Shaheen’s family approached my family for my daughter. Both families are in touch, matches are made in heaven if Allah wills this match will be made too. My prayers are with Shaheen for his continued success on and off the field,” tweeted Afridi.

     

    “Both families have reached a decision and my daughter is going to be engaged to Shaheen,” Afridi said according to PTI.

    He added that a formal engagement will be announced soon. Shaheen’s father Ayaz Khan also confirmed that he had sent the proposal to Afridi’s family for his son and it has been accepted.

    “We are very happy and both families have been in discussions for the last few months and hopefully now dates will be finalised soon,” he said.

    In his 22 T20Is Shaheen Afridi has picked up 24 wickets, while he has also claimed 45 wickets in the 21 ODIs. He has also played 15 Test for Pakistan and has 48 wickets under his belt.

    Shaheen and Shahid Afridi both were last seen in action in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 which was postponed after several positive cases of coronavirus.

    Shaheen was in excellent form for his side Lahore Qalandars and had picked up nine wickets in just four matches. Shahid Afridi, on the other hand, had a terrible outing in the four matches for Multan Sultans as he failed to even open his account in three successive games.

    Also read: Pakistan Fans Blame India & Australia As PSL Umpire Refused To Cap

    IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant Smashed a Sensational Century

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    Rishabh Pant
    Rishabh Pant

    Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant bags his 3rd Test Century and his first-ever test century in India during the final test of India vs England.

    Rishabh Pant hits a Century in 4th Test vs England

    Pant walked in to bat when India was in a spot of bother at 80 for 4 in reply to England’s first-innings 205 with Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane all back in the pavilion.

    An outrageous reverse-sweep-off Anderson brought up the 100-run partnership between Pant and Sundar and moved Pant into the nineties. It didn’t take him long to go past 100.

    Pant couldn’t carry on for long after getting to his hundred as he hit an Anderson delivery straight to Root at short mid-wicket to be dismissed for 101 off 118 balls.

    India vs England 4th Test Overview

    Winning the toss England choose to bat first and scored 205 runs in their first innings. Ben Stokes scored the highest of 55 runs on behalf of England. Team India started their 1st innings in such an unwanted way. India loses their opener, Shubman Gill, in the very first over. Soon Pujara walks to the pavilion after scoring 17 runs.

    The dreams were shattered when skipper Virat Kohli went run less. soon Rohit Sharma too walks to Pavillion while scoring 49 runs. India lands in serious trouble as they lose their first 6 wickets while scoring 146 runs. Then comes the savior Rishabh Pant and scored a much-needed century and drags the score to 259 for his wicket.

    Twitter Users React to Rishabh Pant’s Century

    Former Indian domestic legend Wasim Jaffer posts a pic where a pant(wearable) can seen in fire. He indicates this to mention Rishabh Pant on fire mode in the final test of India vs England.

    One of the Twitter users praises Rishabh Pant for his surprise shot in his 89 runs which seems to be a bold move against an aggressive bowler like Jimmy Anderson.

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