Cricket is not just about intense competition; it often brings lighter moments that fans appreciate. A comical event happened on Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, leaving fans in splits. This humorous mix included Indian beats Sarfaraz Khan AND Rishabh Pants during a crucial phase of India’s second innings.
Confused run attempt between Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant
The incident occurred in the 56th over of India’s second innings when Sarfaraz was nearing his maiden Test century. Batting on 94, Sarfaraz played a late interception Matt Henry‘s delivery towards deep backward point, and immediately sprints for a quick single. With his eyes on reaching the three-figure mark, Sarfaraz initially considered the possibility of a second run.
Both Sarfaraz and Pant appeared confident of attempting the second run, but the situation quickly changed. As Sarfaraz realized the danger, he stopped in the middle of the pitch, signaling Pant to stay back. However, Pant kept running, focused on the ball rather than his partner. This led to a moment of chaos as Sarfaraz made frantic gestures and shouted to get Pant’s attention, even jumping up and down the pitch.
Here is the video:
#sarfrazkhan #RishabhPant #INDvsNZ funny escape pic.twitter.com/cpYXqAlkCY
— Shivam Gupta (@ShivamGupt21183) October 19, 2024
ALSO READ: IND vs NZ: Sarfaraz Khan joins elite list of Indian stars with duck and century in same Test
The close call was averted thanks to a lucky break
The mix-up could have been disastrous for India, but luck was on their side. Player’s shot at the goalkeeper, Tom Blundellwas off target and resulted in a difficult bounce. Blundell had to step away to collect the ball, missing the opportunity for a direct underarm hit that could have led to a run out. That short error gave Pant enough time to get back to the non-striker’s end, avoiding a close call that could have added unnecessary pressure to the Indian innings.
The incident quickly became a talking point on social media, with fans sharing their reactions and poking fun at the comical scenario. Such moments add to the charm of cricket, showing that even the most professional athletes can have their funny and memorable moments on the field.
