Rishabh Pant, the standout Indian wicketkeeper-batter, took the New Zealand bowlers to the cleaners and scored runs for his team at a rapid pace. Pant demonstrated his counterattacking yet natural batting style. Even though they lost wickets quickly, the home team was always in the hunt thanks to his outstanding fifties in both Test innings. Remarkably, Pant not only attempted to get India closer to the aim of 147 runs, but he also managed to get himself added to an elite list of batters due to his amazing six-hitting skills.
In the series’ third and final Test match against New Zealand (NZ), on Sunday, November 3, Team India (IND) gave in to the strain of the run-chase while raising concerns about their defensive strategy and tactics. Notably, the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the final Test match.
Consequently, the Blackcaps, often known as the dark horses, performed the unthinkable by defeating India not just in their own backyard but also by sweeping them 3-0 with perfect dominance. That means Rohit Sharma was only the second Indian captain to carry this undesired record after Sachin Tendulkar. Ahead of the eagerly anticipated tour to Australia, Team India did discover some advantages despite all the negative parts of a game.
In his knock of fifty (64 off 57 balls), Rishabh Pant smashed a six and nine fours. In actuality, though, his lone six marked his 50th six for India in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC). This made him the third hitter in the WTC to smoke the most sixes. There are now only two batters in the tournament with more sixes. Ben Stokes, the Test captain for England, is presently leading the six-fest standings with 81, while India’s Rohit Sharma, 56, is in second place.
The effect of India’s humiliating loss on their WTC rankings
The team has been severely impacted by their third loss in the Test series. For the Indian team to have a chance of making it to the WTC Final, they would need to play some outstanding cricket during the forthcoming journey to Australia. The Indian Lions have dropped to number two in the WTC points table after defeating New Zealand in a clean sweep, while Australia has risen to the top.
They will need to win at least four Tests in the five-game Border Gavaskar (BGT 2024-25) Test series, which makes their chances now look rather slim.
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Additionally, they must avoid a draw in order to maintain their lead over other teams vying for a final spot, as recent victories by South Africa have made the battle much more difficult.
Batters with most sixes in WTC history
| Player Name | Country | Number of Sixes Hit |
| Ben Stokes | England | 81 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 56 |
| Rishabh Pant | India | 50 |
India
