IND vs SA: Twitter Goes Crazy As Rishabh Pant Smashes A Fantabulous Century At Cape Town As Other Indian Batsmen Struggle

Rishabh Pant notched up his fourth Test ton, his first against South Africa on day 3 of the Cape Town Test. He batted with intent alongside Virat Kohli and since his dismissal has farmed the strike alongside the tail-enders. He ended unbeaten on 100 as India were bowled out for 198 in the second innings. South Africa now need 211 runs to win the third Test and the series.

Rishabh Pant has played controlled but aggressive cricket on a pitch that has become difficult for batting. India lost the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane early on in the day. Since then it was Kohli and Pant who did the repair job for India.

Pant added 94-runs with Kohli for the fifth wicket. Just when it looked like India were coming back in this Test match, Kohli lost his wicket to yet another ball which forced him to drive outside off stump. The Indian score was 152 when Kohli was dismissed and the remaining batsmen added just 46 runs with Pant remaining unbeaten on exactly 100.

At a young age of just 24, Rishabh Pant now has Test hundreds against Australia, England and now South Africa. He also has scored three of his four Test tons in overseas conditions. The young wicket-keeper batsman was slammed by cricket experts for throwing his wicket away in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test match. However, in this innings, he batted with responsibility ensuring that he had a much-needed partnership for Team India with his skipper.

The Indian bowlers now have their task cut out to defend 211 that South Africa need to win the third Test and the series. The onus will be on Jasprit Bumrah to replicate his first innings perfirmance. He took 5/42 in the first innings. Another similar effort from India’s premier pacer can well see India win the Test match and create history.

Here’s how Cricketing fraternity reacted to Rishabh Pant’s Century in the Cape Town test:

A brilliant innings from @RishabhPant17 as he brings up his 4th Test ?.#SAvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/eo1iTysemP

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 13, 2022

You don’t necessarily have to decode his game so long as @RishabhPant17 can set up/win India big Test matches #RishabhPant #INDvsSA

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 13, 2022

Big message for Pant here. If he gives himself time, he can be an extraordinary batter. This is another special innings.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 13, 2022

“???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???!”

A top-quality ton from Rishabh Pant. ? pic.twitter.com/rTux8U6D6L

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 13, 2022

And that's what a match winner is all about! What a playa @RishabhPant17 one of the best innings under pressure, don't see why he should ever change his game! #SAvIND

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) January 13, 2022

What a knock !! ? ? @RishabhPant17 #INDvsSAF @BCCI

— Dhawal Kulkarni (@dhawal_kulkarni) January 13, 2022

“Khoobiyan bhi mujh mein, khaamiyaan bhi mujh mein. Dhoondne waale tu soch, chahiye kya mujh mein. Humein toh aap mein khoobiyaan hi nazar aa rahi hain!” – Vivek Razdan, Gabba 2021 ?

A crucial away Test series decider in January, #RP17 had to rise ?#SAvIND @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/MZxWo4nf9N

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 13, 2022

The Superhero ⚡ without a cape in town! ?️?#SAvIND #WhistlePodu ??

— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P?du Whistle P?du! (@ChennaiIPL) January 13, 2022

Test hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa – and Pant is just 24 years old. What a freak. pic.twitter.com/UV4gTn6zC8

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 13, 2022

Test 100s by Indian WKs outside Asia

West Indies: Vijay Manjrekar, Ajay Ratra & Saha

RISHABH PANT
✅England ???????
✅Australia ??
✅South Africa ??#SAvIND

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 13, 2022

Rishabh Pant has a Test ton in England, Australia & South Africa. Has 4 tons in 4 different countries: England, Australia, India & South Africa. 1st Indian wicketkeeper to hit a Test ton in SA. Only the 2nd Indian wk to hit a Test ton v SA

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) January 13, 2022

What an innings from @RishabhPant17 ???? #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/BOj1P8o6M0

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 13, 2022

Full of heart and courage! What an innings @RishabhPant17 ? Well done my bro ? pic.twitter.com/nFNz3mVYx2

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) January 13, 2022

This is one of the most outstanding hundreds we will see. @RishabhPant17 brilliant. #IndvSA

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 13, 2022

TAKE A BOW, RISHABH PANT! ?

A superbly compiled century, after coming out when #TeamIndia were under pressure ?

??: 195/9#SAvIND #OrangeArmy

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 13, 2022

One of the GREAT Test hundreds @RishabhPant17 !! #Incredible #SAvsIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 13, 2022

He has scored Test tons in Australia and England before and this one in Cape Town is right up there with one of the best counter- attacking innings one would ever see. Has kept India in the game. Take a bow, #RishabhPant . pic.twitter.com/Rfo8C3ZBgS

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 13, 2022

Hundreds in England Australia SAF. A match winner in the decider in Brisbane and now a 100 in a decider in SA, this man is a game changer Indian cricket will always love to have. Well played. @RishabhPant17 #RishabhPant #SAvIND

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 13, 2022

Love the way how Pant stands still at the crease, looking extremely bored after every defensive stroke he plays.

It's almost like he saying "kya kya karna padta hai…" : )

— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) January 13, 2022

What an incredible ?!! #rishabhpant #INDvsSAF ??????

— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) January 13, 2022

This is a serious knock @RishabhPant17 – Take a bow !!! #Testcricket #SAvsInd pic.twitter.com/9biAKYgI0r

— Vijay Shankar (@vijayshankar260) January 13, 2022

For test cricket he is giving totally a different kind of flavour. What an entertaining ? Top knock #RishabhPant champion stuff ?? #SAvIND #TeamIndia

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) January 13, 2022

Rare cricketer. Rare mind. Don't even try to read his mind! #RishabhPant #SAvsIND

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) January 13, 2022

#pant will always divide opinions with his unique style. We must celebrate his uniqueness because a ? like this can make him a future great. #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/zh2IRBPipi

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) January 13, 2022

What an innings under such a pressure situation ?
Take a bow @RishabhPant17 ?? pic.twitter.com/xaDRL1ZbNZ

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) January 13, 2022

Rishabh Pant becomes the first Asian keeper to score a Test century in South Africa.#SAvsIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 13, 2022

Real Superman ? what an innings bro @RishabhPant17 ??? pic.twitter.com/PZuOqpiHqd

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) January 13, 2022

The reason why we keep talking so highly about #pant is the ability to play game changing innings! Brilliant ?

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 13, 2022

Simply Red playing to Pant’s ridic ? feels so wrong. Perfect time for a bit of Hendrix ? #SAvIND

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 13, 2022

Order a Cape at Cape Town for the Superman @RishabhPant17.

What a heroic innings he's playing!#SAvIND #DKommBox pic.twitter.com/GIMi8LNgdU

— DK (@DineshKarthik) January 13, 2022

Well played @RishabhPant17 best ever you beauty ❤️❤️?? pic.twitter.com/MJZomGY2Zq

— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) January 13, 2022

#pant played to the situation and that’s what makes this knock special! These runs will add to the #SouthAfrican batter’s worry, as they have to face one of the best bowling attack in test cricket. #SAvIND

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) January 13, 2022

A simply outstanding knock by @RishabhPant17 at a crucial stage!

Well done.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/gdlTgfH3UE

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 13, 2022

Rishabh Pant is a special player…played the best Test knock by an Indian in 2021 (Gabba). And here, he’s played another gem. It wasn’t even a contest without Pant’s contribution. #SAvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 13, 2022

?? #?

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) January 13, 2022

Top knock under pressure…well played Rishabh Pant against lethal bowling attack. #SAvIND @RishabhPant17

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) January 13, 2022

Also Read: IND vs SA: Watch – Rishabh Pant’s Bat Slips From His Hands As He Hits A Shot on Day 3 In Cape Town