Pant's Run Out Is A Massive Lifeline For England: Steve Harmison

JioHotstar experts, Anil Kumble and Steve Harmison, speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’, reflected on the Day 3 of the first session, praising India’s batting but also highlighting how Pant’s dismissal offered England a crucial lifeline.

Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the first session on Day 3 of the third Test, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble weighed in on the unfortunate run-out of Rishabh Pant:“I think initially Rishabh Pant called and then hesitated, thinking that there was no run. And then KL was off the blocks straight away. So Rishabh Pant’s initial hesitation probably delayed his response. And then he had to take off because KL was just running straight through and on target. This was unnecessary, for sure, because you could have just blocked the next three balls, gone to lunch, and then do whatever you had to—or continued the great work that both these batters did in that first session.”

Reflecting on the dominant stand between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, Kumble added: “They’ve done so well. I mean, a fantastic partnership. It’s not that they had to fight hard—controlled aggression. I thought the first session certainly belonged to India. But they’ve just allowed England some confidence going into that lunch session because Jofra Archer only bowled four overs in the session. He’ll come back post-lunch and then look to get a couple of wickets. And why give them an opportunity? I mean, India could have easily taken the game away from them. And Rishabh Pant, unfortunately, got run out.”

JioHotstar expert Steve Harmison commented on how Pant’s dismissal breathed life into England’s bowling attack: “I look at this and go, wow, what a lifeline this is for England. It’s a huge lifeline. I thought England bowled really well in that first half an hour. KL Rahul played the way he does in a natural fashion. The ball coming to him, taking what’s on offer. Made some beautiful shots square of the wicket for boundaries. And Rishabh, I’ve stopped thinking about what is potentially going on inside that young man’s head. But it’s brilliant. It is so good to watch. And he has just made this game go a little bit fast-forward for India. So, I think England are just getting a massive, massive lifeline with that little bit of indecision with the runner.”

Summing up the broader picture of the session, Anil Kumble said: “I thought India sort of blunted England’s attack. Initially, Jofra Archer obviously bowled sharp. And I thought it was a bit too predictable—the short bowling, especially to KL Rahul. And India just rode that phase comfortably and then started attacking after that 45 or 50-minute mark. And then I thought the last one hour certainly belonged to India. Literally every over was a boundary. And both these batters were absolutely comfortable with what was going on—until this indecision from Rishabh Pant. And he just hesitated that fraction of a second, and that cost him his wicket.”

Catch Day 4 of the third Test of India’s tour of England, tomorrow at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar