India’s wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant is renowned for his animated and enthusiastic presence behind the stumps. During the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, Pant once again displayed his humorous side with a hilarious piece of advice for spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
As Bangladesh batter Mominul Haque repeatedly attempted to sweep Ashwin’s deliveries, Pant suggested an unconventional strategy to trap him leg-before-wicket (LBW). “Helmet se ek LBW le sakta hai bhai (You can get him out LBW with his helmet),” Pant quipped to Ashwin from behind the stumps.
Mominul’s diminutive stature, standing at just 5’3″, meant that his low sweeping technique brought his head close to the line of the stumps. Pant’s spontaneous advice prompted Ashwin to consider the possibility of dismissing Mominul by hitting his helmet.
Despite Pant’s suggestion, Mominul remained unyielding, surviving the onslaught of Indian bowlers and eventually scoring a magnificent 13th Test century, his first on Indian soil. He remained unbeaten on 107 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 233.
On the other hand, Ashwin claimed the wickets of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan, finishing with figures of 2/45 in 15 overs.
India’s response to Bangladesh’s total was equally impressive. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma provided a flying start, guiding India to the fastest-ever team fifty in Test cricket history. Rohit and Jaiswal reached the milestone in just three overs.
While Rohit departed soon after, Jaiswal continued the momentum alongside Shubman Gill. India reached the 100-run mark in 10.1 overs, also the fastest to that score in Test history, surpassing their own record set in 2023 against West Indies.
