47 minutes, 29 balls, no runs: How Pant's luck changed from Nottingham to Southampton

A lot changed in the 190 miles between Nottingham and Southampton for Rishabh Pant. On his Test debut in Nottingham, he had become the first Indian to score his first runs with a six and was also the only Indian keeper to take seven catches on debut. A week later in Pant gave the most byes by an Indian keeper in 15 years and on Friday he equalled the unwanted record of the longest duck by an Indian.

A lot changed in the 190 miles between Nottingham and Southampton for Rishabh Pant. On his Test debut in Nottingham, he had become the first Indian to score his first runs with a six and was also the only Indian keeper to take seven catches on debut. A week later in Southampton, Pant gave the most byes by an Indian keeper in 15 years and on Friday he equalled the unwanted record of the longest duck by an Indian.

Who would believe that Pant failed to get off the mark even after spending 47 minutes at the crease? Those who know Pant’s game would vouch for him to get about 30 runs in that time. But Day 2 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton was different.

Pant was out for the second duck in his third inning after facing 29 balls, joining Irfan Pathan and Suresh Raina who held the record for the longest duck by an Indian in Test cricket. Pathan's 29-ball duck came against Pakistan way back in 2005 while Raina did the same in England in 2011.

One can't find faults in Pant's approach. The young Indian wicket-keeper decided to guts it out after India lost four wickets for 161. He left the ball, refrained from flashing away from his body and treated the ball on merit. While it was a commendable effort from Pant in his attempt to try and build a partnership with Pujara, unknowingly, he went into a shell.

After denying a wicket to Anderson, Pant failed to carry on with the same concentration against off-spinner Moeen Ali and was trapped in front by one of his sliders.

Moeen Ali puts Pant out of his misery pic.twitter.com/SslddfJrAO

— Baahubali (@bahubalikabadla) September 1, 2018