Pant hits, misses!

Rishabh Pant en route his 96 v SL during the 1st Test yesterday. Pic/PTI

Playing his 100th game, Virat Kohli was supposed to hog the limelight on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka. But it was the young Rishabh Pant who stole his thunder with his scintillating stroke-play at the PCA Stadium here yesterday.

His near-century knock has put the home team in a strong position as India ended Day One at a commanding 357 for six. Pant thoroughly deserved a century, but was castled in the first over with the second new ball when just four short of the mark.

Nervous 90's for Rishabh

It was not for the first time the young southpaw was dismissed in the 90's. There have been five occasions when he has fallen in the nervous 90's and once he was unbeaten on 89 during his most memorable knock in India's unlikely three-wicket win in Brisbane in January 2021.

All the Indian batsmen had decent starts with Hanuma Vihari scoring a solid half-century when things were getting hot for the Indian batsman. Shreyas Iyer after early indications of batting up the order was preferred at No.6 and he too was shaping well, making 27 confident runs. And all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja once again showed his utility with 45, hoping to complete a half-century today.

At the start of the day, the question on every lip was will Kohli celebrate the special occasion with an elusive century? The way the master batsman was shaping up looked ominous, till he played back to a delivery which he ought to have played on the front foot. As he was castled by left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, a loud sigh went up in the stands and Kohli walked dejectedly after scoring 45.

After India won the toss and decided to bat first, there was a small ceremony to felicitate Kohli and all eyes waited patiently for the master batsman to make an appearance. Skipper Rohit Sharma, a compulsive hooker, played a short one from Lahiru Kumara straight into the hands of the fine-leg fielder and when Mayank Agarwal was removed by Embuldeniya, in strode the former captain.

Though slight nervous, Kohli soon steadied his nerves and became focussed on the job on hand. During his 76-ball stay he did not look in any particular trouble, though he was circumspect against the spinners. Just a momentary error in judgement of playing back to a pitched-up delivery and a bit of turn saw his off stump disturbed, much to the dismay of a small crowd at the stadium.

Cautious approach

After Kohli's departure, Pant took to the stage and produced an act that only he can with fearless strokes that left the Sri Lankan bowlers clueless. The way Embuldeniya was bowling, at that stage things could have gone either way. But Pant took his time to get in gear and when he finally did, he tore into the bowling and hammered fours and sixes in quick succession to turn things India's way. And when it seemed he was all set for his fifth Test century he was cleaned by a beautiful delivery by Lakmal.

The ball is already turning on the Mohali pitch, so for India to bat first and post over 350 on the first day with a bit of batting still to come, the home team's plans are working according to the plan. How long this Test will last will depend on the response of the Lankan batsmen.

Brief scores
India 357-6 (R Pant 96, H Vihari 58, R Jadeja 45', V Kohli 45; L Embuldeniya 2-107) v SL