IND vs NZ 3rd Test: "Big Match Player" Rishabh Pant Earns Praise as Gritty Fifty Takes India Within Reach of Target

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Rishabh Pant has come to the rescue as India lost more than half of their side in pursuit of 147 on day three of the third and final Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (November 3).

Having dismissed New Zealand for 174 at the beginning of the first session, India needed 147 runs to pick up a conciliatory win. However, the home team batters collapsed to spin with Ajaz Patel, who took a five-for in the first innings, taking his match haul to nine wickets.

Rohit Sharma began the collapse falling to Matt Henry, while Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Sarafarz Khan and Ravindra Jadeja fell victim to Ajaz Patel, who took his tally to 23 wickets at the Mumbai venue.

Glenn Phillips claimed the other wicket, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal. India were 29/5 in 7.1 over. But Pant fought back with his aggressive approach, first sharing a stand with Jadeja to get the runs required to under hundred.

Rishabh Pant (53 not out) was leading India's charge when lunch was taken on day 3, when he had Washington Sundar (6 not out) for company as India tottered to 92/6 with just 55 runs required for victory.

While the target remains small, India has only four wickets in hand and need to counter the tricky surface. But former cricketers, fans and experts believed as long as Pant is there India will win the match, praising the wicketkeeper-batter.

"Rishabh Pant stands out in a close match again. His low back lift and great foot work works wonderfully on spinning track. And, of course, his never say die attitude. Big match player," former India batter Mohammad Kaif posted on X.

"Rishabh Pant is keeping this test match alive. And it is an exciting, bewildering test match," said Harsha Bhogle, while former India pacer Dodda Ganesh added, "As long as Pant is there, India can hope of a win."

This is Pant's second fifty in the Mumbai Test. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 60 in the first innings, helping India take the first innings lead for the first time in the series against New Zealand.