The Indian cricket team may have won the 3-match T20I series against New Zealand by 1-0 but the 3-match ODI series didn’t start in the manner as the Indians expected. While the T20I team was led by Hardik Pandya, the ODI team is being led by senior Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan as Rohit Sharma has been rested by the team management.
The first ODI was played today at Eden Park, Auckland, and the hosts won it by 7 wickets. The Kiwis decided to bowl first after winning the toss but the Indians put up a good show as openers Shikhar Dhawan (72 runs, 77 balls, 13 fours) and Shubman Gill (50 runs, 65 balls, 1 four & 3 sixes) stitched a 124 runs partnership for the first wicket. Shreyas Iyer also played a brilliant knock of 80 runs (76 balls, 4 fours & 4 sixes), useful contribution was made by Sanju Samson (36 runs, 38 balls, 4 fours) and Washington Sundar finished the Indian innings with style as he played a quick knock of 37 runs for which he played only 16 balls and his innings included 3 fours & 3 sixes.
However, the Indian star player Rishabh Pant who is going a through a bad phase for quite some time now once again failed in playing a big innings as he got out for 15 runs which he scored in 23 balls and his innings included 2 fours. Many online users are already angry with the team management for giving chances to Rishabh Pant despite the fact that he failed in making any impact in the T20Is and they are also of the opinion that Sanju Samson is not getting enough chances because Rishabh Pant is eating up all the opportunities.
Here are some selected reactions:
#1
Indian team to Rishabh Pant:#NZvIND #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/KV3SBpIH7h
— 7G (@PitchingOutside) November 20, 2022
#2
https://twitter.com/arvi489/status/1594518763088400384
#3
https://twitter.com/smileandraja/status/1594985534950096896
#4
#RishabhPant is a big scam. Yeah. That’s the tweet. #Casteist_BCCI
— Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) November 25, 2022
#5
#INDvsNZ #Pant #RishabhPant
Greatest batsman missed Century by Just 85 runs 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y8NVqQMdHD— Mahi (@ursmahiiip) November 25, 2022
#6
Both Rohit Sharma and Kl Rahul were not in today's match but Rishabh Pant did not let us feel the absence of both of them.
He is two in one
Figure like Rohit Sharma
Played like Kl Rahul#INDvNZ #RishabhPant #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/R55MCma3kJ— Registanroyals (@registanroyals) November 20, 2022
#7
https://twitter.com/Pardeshi_vipin/status/1595988977831452672
#8
https://twitter.com/therealishfaq/status/1595989677265530885
#9
@BCCI @RishabhPant17 please give me a chance to play in Indian cricket. Give me continuous 50 matches, somehow I will make a 50 run in one innings like @RishabhPant17 @klrahul 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Open book (@sayeverything0) November 25, 2022
Though New Zealand didn’t get a very good start yet skipper Kane Williamson (94 runs not out, 98 balls, 7 fours & 1 six) and Tom Latham (145 runs not out, 104 balls, 19 fours & 5 sixes) ensured that their team went home as the winner. The Kiwis won the match by 7 wickets in hand and with 17 balls remaining in their innings, Tom Latham was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his sensational innings. The second ODI will be played on 27 November at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Is Rishabh Pant getting preferential treatment from the BCCI and team management? What do you think? Do let us know.
