Hyderabad: Young and exciting wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant on Friday marked his comeback in One Day International (ODI) cricket in style. Pant was named in India's ODI playing XI after 437 days. The last time Pant played for India, it was way back in January 2020 during Australia's tour of India.
Pant replaced an injured Shreyas Iyer in India's squad for the second ODI against England and instantly marked his return in golden letters as he smashed a blistering 77 off just 40 balls. It is also Pant's highest score in one-dayers. Pant's 77-run knock was laced with three boundaries and seven sixes.
Read | IND vs ENG, 2nd ODI: Rahul, Pant power India to 336/6
The Delhi Capitals cricketer continued the good work of KL Rahul and his skipper Virat Kohli after the former was sent back to the stands.
Ahead of the second ODI, Pant's place in India's playing was questioned by many cricketer experts as well fans, as Suryakumar Yadav was more like to like replacement of Iyer. However, the 23-year-old proved his doubters wrong with a breathtaking batting display.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
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Bow down to #RishabhPant. Champion stuff! Well Played King 👏#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/GlE7gSzyuX
— UrMiL07™ (@urmilpatel30) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Bow down to #RishabhPant. Champion stuff! Well Played King 👏#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/GlE7gSzyuX
— UrMiL07™ (@urmilpatel30) March 26, 2021Bow down to #RishabhPant. Champion stuff! Well Played King 👏#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/GlE7gSzyuX
— UrMiL07™ (@urmilpatel30) March 26, 2021
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Rishabh Rajendra Pant. That's it. That's the tweet.#RishabhPant #RP17 pic.twitter.com/FKDy7OXJE1
— ⚠️🅰️Dℹ¹⁸⚠️ (@Adi_Rukhster06) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Rishabh Rajendra Pant. That's it. That's the tweet.#RishabhPant #RP17 pic.twitter.com/FKDy7OXJE1
— ⚠️🅰️Dℹ¹⁸⚠️ (@Adi_Rukhster06) March 26, 2021Rishabh Rajendra Pant. That's it. That's the tweet.#RishabhPant #RP17 pic.twitter.com/FKDy7OXJE1
— ⚠️🅰️Dℹ¹⁸⚠️ (@Adi_Rukhster06) March 26, 2021
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Umpire Was Liar
— ✨Yashrajsinh Rana ✨ (@YashrajsinhRan4) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
R.Pant On Fire 🔥🔥🔥🌟🌟🌟#RishabhPant #INDvENG #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/FERqZLIvQq
">Umpire Was Liar
— ✨Yashrajsinh Rana ✨ (@YashrajsinhRan4) March 26, 2021
R.Pant On Fire 🔥🔥🔥🌟🌟🌟#RishabhPant #INDvENG #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/FERqZLIvQqUmpire Was Liar
— ✨Yashrajsinh Rana ✨ (@YashrajsinhRan4) March 26, 2021
R.Pant On Fire 🔥🔥🔥🌟🌟🌟#RishabhPant #INDvENG #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/FERqZLIvQq
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One-handed six should be given to Rishabh Pant.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">One-handed six should be given to Rishabh Pant.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021One-handed six should be given to Rishabh Pant.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021
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Rishabh Pant has hit 24 sixes in this year and we are just into 3rd month of 2021.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Rishabh Pant has hit 24 sixes in this year and we are just into 3rd month of 2021.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021Rishabh Pant has hit 24 sixes in this year and we are just into 3rd month of 2021.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2021
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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 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">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, 2021Well 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
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Talk about unleashing Rishabh Pant! He’s just brought up his 50 off 28 balls. You can’t not love watching him play! He brings energy, excitement and great cricket. Love a bit of Pant action. 🇮🇳🏴#INDvENG
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Talk about unleashing Rishabh Pant! He’s just brought up his 50 off 28 balls. You can’t not love watching him play! He brings energy, excitement and great cricket. Love a bit of Pant action. 🇮🇳🏴#INDvENG
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 26, 2021Talk about unleashing Rishabh Pant! He’s just brought up his 50 off 28 balls. You can’t not love watching him play! He brings energy, excitement and great cricket. Love a bit of Pant action. 🇮🇳🏴#INDvENG
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 26, 2021
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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 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">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, 2021What 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
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It's that time again. #RishabhPant #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/LeinYcvkTw
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">It's that time again. #RishabhPant #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/LeinYcvkTw
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2021It's that time again. #RishabhPant #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/LeinYcvkTw
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2021
Meanwhile, put in to bat first, India posted 336 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 50 overs against England.
For India, KL Rahul top-scored with 108 runs off 114 balls. Indian skipper Virat Kohli also made a valuable contribution of 66 runs of 79 balls.
Also Read: Stokes uses saliva on ball, gets warning from on-field umpires
India are leading three-match ODI series vs England 1-0.
