"Future Captain" - Fans hail Rishabh Pant as he hits career-best 85 in 2nd ODI vs South Africa

Rishabh Pant's counter-attacking 85 helped Team India set a competitive target of 288 in front of South Africa in the second ODI in Paarl. All-rounders Shardul Thakur (40*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (25*) also chipped in useful cameos to help India's cause in the first innings.After opting to bat first, Team India got off to a decent start as KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan put on 63 in 11.4 overs for the first wicket. But the hosts came back into the contest by dismissing Dhawan and Virat Kohli in quick succession.Captain Rahul (55) and Pant stitched together a valuable 115-run partnership to steer India out of trouble. The visitors kept losing wickets following this match-defining stand. Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer again failed to utilize their chances as they perished without significant contributions.Follow the live match updates here.Fans heaped praise on Pant for his aggressive knock and proclaimed that he is a strong captaincy candidate for India in the future. They also recognized the useful contribution of Shardul Thakur in the end and hailed him for his batting exploits.Here are some of the best reactions:Sagar@sagarcasmRishabh Pant in any situation, any format4:29 AM · Jan 21, 20223085227Rishabh Pant in any situation, any format https://t.co/df0sDbwKJAVivek Das@TheVivekDasGreat counter-attacking innings from Rishabh Pant 85 off just 71! He is turning out to be a very valuable player for ODIs too Future Captain #SAvIND5:39 AM · Jan 21, 202251Great counter-attacking innings from Rishabh Pant 🔥85 off just 71! 👏He is turning out to be a very valuable player for ODIs too 👍Future Captain 👀#SAvINDSherlock@EngineeroastI'm a bigger fan of Rishabh Pant's batting (when he is not being reckless) than the ones getting triggered but stating a fact is not a crime. #SAvIND5:38 AM · Jan 21, 20221I'm a bigger fan of Rishabh Pant's batting (when he is not being reckless) than the ones getting triggered but stating a fact is not a crime. #SAvINDDebayan Sen (ਦੇਬਾਯਨ)@debayansenRishabh Pant aside, this has been a very timid and conservative approach to building an ODI innings from India. Disappointing, considering this has been a consistent problem for both white-ball sides for a while. Can’t blame the newcomers too much. #INDvsSA5:37 AM · Jan 21, 20226Rishabh Pant aside, this has been a very timid and conservative approach to building an ODI innings from India. Disappointing, considering this has been a consistent problem for both white-ball sides for a while. Can’t blame the newcomers too much. #INDvsSAhariom yadav@hariomyadav55Highest international scores by Indian wicketkeepers in South Africa:100* - Rishabh Pant in 202290 - MS Dhoni in 201085 - Rishabh Pant in 20225:36 AM · Jan 21, 2022Highest international scores by Indian wicketkeepers in South Africa:100* - Rishabh Pant in 202290 - MS Dhoni in 201085 - Rishabh Pant in 2022 https://t.co/mNQXF1z7qFMJ@MJRJ369@NiPuN__045 @Adityakrsaha Ye bhi dhekoRishabh Pant in his last 8 ODI innings : 71, 39(16), 7, 28, 77, 78, 16, 85 An aggregate of 401 runs at an average of 50.1...Strike rate close to 1405:36 AM · Jan 21, 202215@NiPuN__045 @Adityakrsaha Ye bhi dhekoRishabh Pant in his last 8 ODI innings : 71, 39(16), 7, 28, 77, 78, 16, 85 An aggregate of 401 runs at an average of 50.1...Strike rate close to 140India Fantasy@india_fantasyVirat Kohli dancing after that Rishabh Pant 4 🤣🤣🤣4:21 AM · Jan 21, 20221132100Virat Kohli dancing after that Rishabh Pant 4 😭🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/qJRA8JcIAzR A T N I S H@LoyalSachinFanThere is no shortage of entertainment when Rishabh Pant is batting. Pure Box Office. Well played @RishabhPant174:37 AM · Jan 21, 202238425There is no shortage of entertainment when Rishabh Pant is batting. Pure Box Office. Well played @RishabhPant17 https://t.co/GYnhRZu6LIকৌশিক 🇮🇳@the_memer_kid_Rishabh Pant #INDvsSA6:02 AM · Jan 21, 202253Rishabh Pant 🔥🔥🔥#INDvsSA https://t.co/rlxDJvOVMnAyan@ayan_acharya13It's time the selectors consider grooming Rishabh Pant as the country's next long-term ODI captain. PS - (Will say this even if India wins the series under KL)4:42 AM · Jan 21, 202220532It's time the selectors consider grooming Rishabh Pant as the country's next long-term ODI captain. PS - (Will say this even if India wins the series under KL)Indian RP17™🏏@BCCI_IndianRishabh Pant is the most selfless player, never cares about centuries and personal milestones❣️4:42 AM · Jan 21, 202228650Rishabh Pant is the most selfless player, never cares about centuries and personal milestones❣️ https://t.co/Q0pzoxxEftShail@shail_bhagatFirst they ignore you.Then they laugh at you.Then they fight you.Then you win.-- Shardul Thakur5:53 AM · Jan 21, 20221First they ignore you.Then they laugh at you.Then they fight you.Then you win.-- Shardul ThakurHeisenberg ☢@internetumpireHeard India was looking for a #10 ST from Mumbai and an awe inspiring pace bowling all rounder and Shardul Thakur said I'm in.5:03 AM · Jan 5, 20221125102Heard India was looking for a #10 ST from Mumbai and an awe inspiring pace bowling all rounder and Shardul Thakur said I'm in. https://t.co/pl1sZaWHg6A@AppeFizzzLord Shardul Thakur is here to destroy opposition5:46 AM · Jan 21, 2022133Lord Shardul Thakur is here to destroy opposition https://t.co/ndsj0AGMrwHeisenberg ☢@internetumpireWhen is Shardul Thakur being promoted to the A+ BCCI contract?5:38 AM · Jan 21, 202231128When is Shardul Thakur being promoted to the A+ BCCI contract?Mohandas Menon@mohanstatsmanRishabh Pant (81*) now also has the highest ODI score+ by an Indian wicket-keeper on South African soil.Previously, Rahul Dravid had made 77 at Durban in 2001.#IndvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND + his 100* in the Cape Town Test is the only Test 100 by an Indian keeper in SAf.4:20 AM · Jan 21, 202267872Rishabh Pant (81*) now also has the highest ODI score+ by an Indian wicket-keeper on South African soil.Previously, Rahul Dravid had made 77 at Durban in 2001.#IndvSA #INDvsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND + his 100* in the Cape Town Test is the only Test 100 by an Indian keeper in SAf.&quot;India getting close to 290 is mostly the Pant effect&quot; - Sanjay MajrekarFormer Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rishabh Pant's fearless knock in the second ODI. He felt Pant's innings was the major reason behind India reaching 287. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar reviewed the first innings of the second ODI and said:&quot;Rishabh Pant is not your traditional No.4, but today's innings was another reminder of how exceptional this guy is. He is very hard to bowl to. India getting close to 290 is mostly the Pant effect.He added:&quot;Good score, now we need to see how KL Rahul leads the team. SA have used 30-35 overs of spin/slow bowling while India used just 20 last time. If India have learned from SA, this will be a difficult score to chase.&quot;The onus is now on the bowlers to defend a decent total, which will allow India to level the series 1-1.

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