NEW DELHI: In a series where India suffered a rare 3-0 home whitewash against New Zealand on Sunday, Team India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant emerged as a standout performer, demonstrating grit and resilience on challenging, spin-friendly surfaces.
After the series defeat, Pant shared an inspiring message on Instagram, writing, “Life is a series of seasons. When you are down, remember that growth happens in cycles. Embrace the lows, knowing they are preparing you for the highs.”
His words resonated with fans who saw him as a bright spot amid India’s struggles.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali joined the chorus of praise, singling out Pant’s crucial knocks of 60 in the first innings and 64 in the second as shining examples of his talent and maturity.
“People might say he’s worth 25 crore, but in my opinion, he should go for 50 crore,” Basit remarked, noting that Pant’s value was evident in his composed shot selection and his ability to navigate tough conditions effectively.
“When he was batting on this surface, it looked as if it was a flat pitch—he was hitting wherever he wanted,” Basit added, praising Pant’s ability to make difficult conditions look deceptively manageable.
Pant’s performance during the third Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium placed him in an elite club, as he became only the third player to hit 50 sixes in the World Test Championship (WTC), joining cricket heavyweights Ben Stokes and Rohit Sharma.
Despite Pant’s best efforts, India faltered in their chase of 147, succumbing to New Zealand’s well-orchestrated bowling attack.
The visitors leveraged the turning wicket to bowl India out for 121, securing a 25-run victory and a historic 3-0 series win.
