IND vs WI Live: Shreyas Iyer & Rishabh Pant hit half-centuries – India’s middle-order seemed a real deal in South Africa. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant were hits and misses. On Friday, Pant and Iyer rose to the occasion against West Indies in the 3rd ODI to ease the headache on Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. Follow India vs West Indies Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Rishabh Pant has been at the eye of the criticism for his unorthodox methods of hitting shots and throwing away his wickets more often than not. With India losing three early wickets, it was a test for the middle-order to produce something special. The two did exactly that.
IND vs WI Live: Shreyas Iyer & Rishabh Pant hit timely half-centuries to RESCUE India, ease middle-order headache
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Rishabh Pant took on Odean Smith & Co after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan fell cheaply. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings from the other end with a patient knock.
Having sealed the ODI series already, Rohit Sharma wanted to test Indian batsmen resolve and opted to bat first on a tricky Ahmedabad wicket. Shreyas Iyer got going early while Rishabh Pant took the fight to the West Indies bowlers, smashing five fours and a six, scoring at a strike rate of 100.
IND vs WI Live: Shreyas Iyer & Rishabh Pant hit timely half-centuries to RESCUE India, ease middle-order headache
IND vs WI Live: Why Iyer & Pant fifties were very, very important?
- Shreyas Iyer has been facing hit after a flop show in South Africa. He scored just 17, 11 and 26 in three matches and was his place on the line, especially with Team India open to experimenting.
- The competition for middle-order place has been immense with KL Rahul essentially being considered for the No 4 role in ODIs.
- Iyer had to compete with Suryakumar Yadav besides potentially Ishan Kishan and Shahrukh Khan, who has been knocking at the door after an impressive domestic run.
- Rishabh Pant has his place sealed but his rash dismissals and inconsistency could have opened the door for Ishan Kishan and potentially Sanju Samson, who has been out of favours.
- After a fine 85 in South Africa, he played an impressive 56-run knock and commanded West Indies during his stay.
FIFTY for @RishabhPant17! 👌 👌
A fine effort with the bat from the #TeamIndia wicketkeeper as he brings up his 5⃣th ODI half-century. 👏 👏 #INDvWI @Paytm
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/9pGAfWtQZV pic.twitter.com/uQG1paVI4P
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 11, 2022
IND vs WI Live: Shreyas Iyer & Rishabh Pant hit timely half-centuries to RESCUE India, ease middle-order headache
Shreyas Iyer, who lost his place to Suryakumar Yadav after a flop show in South Africa, scoring 17, 11 and 26 in three innings returned to the side after Deepak Hooda was rested. With Hooda and Shahrukh Khan waiting in the wings, Shreyas Iyer had to produce something special to keep himself in the scheme of things. On Friday, he managed that with a fine and patient half-century. For Rishabh Pant, it was about repaying the team management’s trust and he did that with a 54-ball 56.
For Iyer, the fifty also meant that he has found his form and it will serve as a big message to the franchises ahead of IPL Auction. He is likely to be one of the highest-paid players in IPL 2022 and the half-century will remind the team owners why he definitely deserve any price they pay.
IND vs WI Live: Shreyas Iyer & Rishabh Pant hit timely half-centuries to RESCUE India, ease middle-order headache
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