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Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant added 96 runs for the fifth wicket partnership as India dominated New Zealand.
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant batting together (AP)
Shubman Gill was full of praise for Rishabh Pant for becoming the fastest fifty by an Indian against New Zealand on day two of the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Gill and Rishabh Pant’s attacking 60 gave India a 28-run lead as the pair added 96 runs for the fifth wicket partnership.
Gill said putting pressure on the New Zealand bowlers was an approach that worked well during his partnership with Pant.
“When you put the bowlers under pressure, it is difficult for them to bowl in that area consistently and that’s what we talked about,” he said.
Pant came out with aggressive instincts and launched into Ajaz Patel in the first over of the second day, jumping out to loft over the bowler’s head on the first two deliveries of the morning. Another four in the over, proved that the Indian batters were not going to allow the New Zealand bowlers to settle down.
Pant used his feet, employed the reverse sweep and struck his shots at will, hitting Patel for a four and a six off successive balls — a reverse sweep to the boundary followed by a charge-out for a lofted drive onto the roof of the stadium over the sightscreen.
The wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi raced to the fastest half-century by an Indian against New Zealand in Tests, reaching the mark off just 36 balls. Pant improved on the record held by Yashasvi Jaiswal who reached the half-century off 44 balls in the previous Test in Pune.
He credited Pant for releasing pressure on him.
“The way Rishabh came in and started hitting those boundaries, in that particular session they were not very consistent with their line and length so that’s how we were able to cash in.”
Gill said he emphasizes on knowing when to use the sweep and the reverse sweep shots.
“You play these shots to move the fielders out of their place — the fielders that are in the catching position,” he said.
“Yesterday I played sweeps and the fielders where I wanted the gaps, For me, it’s all about having those shots, but playing them when I know (they are required to be played) is absolutely necessary.”
New Zealand ended the second day at 171 for 9 in their second innings with a lead of 143.
(With inputs from Agencies)