Watch- Rishabh Pant twists and turns as he avoids crashing his knee against his helmet

Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant showcased acrobatic skills behind the wickets against Pakistan during the 19th match of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Rishabh Pant pulled off a sensational catch to dismiss Pakistan middle-order batter Fakhar Zaman in the highly anticipated match of the ICC tournament.

The Indian team managed to score 119 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Sunday, June 9. The Indian bowlers delivered an exceptional performance while defending a below-par total. They restricted the opposition team to 113 runs to secure a six-run victory in the match.

Chasing 120 runs for victory, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 13 runs off 10 balls by Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan stabilized the Pakistan innings with a 31-run stand for the second wicket. Axar Patel provided the breakthrough in his spell by dismissing Usman on the first ball.

Fakhar Zaman smashed a six off the second ball he faced in the match. The left-handed batter danced down and launched it into the crowd. Fakhar hit a boundary off Arshdeep Singh's bowling in the next over. However, he was outsmarted by Hardik Pandya when Pakistan seemed in control to secure the victory.

Watch - Rishabh Pant Pulls Off Incredible Catch To Dismiss Fakhar Zaman

Hardik Pandya bowled a rapid short ball that induced a top edge off Fakhar Zaman's bat. As the ball looped up, Rishabh Pant shuffled backward, then to his right and left, before diving back to secure a crucial catch. Zaman had to depart for the dressing room after scoring 13 runs off eight balls, with one four and one six.

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Pakistan scored 80 runs for the loss of three wickets in 14 overs. Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah changed the match in India's favor by dismissing Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan on the first ball of the fifth over. Rizwan scored 31 runs off 44 deliveries with the help of one boundary and one maximum.

The Pakistan middle and lower-order batters failed to show a fight against Indian bowlers during the chase. Jasprit Bumrah picked up three wickets for 14 runs in his four-over quota. Hardik Pandya secured two wickets for 24 runs, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel picked up a wicket each in India's victory in the match.

The Sheer Commitment Towards Excellence In Fielding - Team India fielding coach

Rishabh Pant received the best fielder medal from a special individual in the dressing room. Indian fielding coach T. Dilip emphasized the team's resilience under pressure, citing the importance of proactive fielding in high-pressure situations.

“Today was a great example of ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’. One thing that stood out today was the sheer commitment towards excellence in fielding. In high-pressure situations, being proactive is extremely important. Today, we backed each other up, looked after each other, and worked as one unit. Outstanding effort, well done. This level of coordination makes us effective and sets us apart from any other team,” Dilip said.

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