[Watch] Rishabh Pant smacks Tim Southee for a six into the 3rd tier in 1st IND vs NZ 2024 Test

After playing the patient game for 24 balls, Rishabh Pant set his bat loose by punishing New Zealand's senior pacer Tim Southee with a mammoth six. He smashed the maximum in the third innings of the first Test between the teams in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 19.

Pant was on 12 when Southee came to bowl the fourth over of his spell and the 61st of the innings. The Kiwi had kept wicketkeeper Tom Blundell on the stumps to prevent Pant from stepping out, but the Indian showed that he didn't need to.

The first ball of the over was a full one outside the off-stump and Pant stood still, using his power and quick bat speed to smash it down the ground. The ball soared past a couple of eagles to land in the third tier at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Watch the video here:

The shot changed the trajectory of Pant's innings. He had looked more tentative than usual for those 24 balls and saw many edges land in safe zones. He almost got run out after miscommunication with Sarfaraz Khan at the other end.

After the six, it felt like his concentration and confidence came rushing back as he hit another four against Southee on the last ball of the over and plundered 16 runs against spinner Ajaz Patel in the 66th over.

---

India racing towards making a comeback a reality with Pant and Sarfaraz

India came to bat on Saturday with a dream to complete a resounding comeback from the disastrous 46 all-out in the first innings.

Sarfaraz took the first steps towards making it a reality by adding 30 runs in no time to reach his maiden Test hundred and overcoming a variety of plans from the Black Caps. After his celebrations, Pant has shown all the right signs of extending the advantage.

India would feel that because of their aggressive styles, the longer these two bat, the better their chances of getting a result out of this game.

Catch all the live-action here.

​