Wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Litton Das had a tense exchange during the first session of Day 1 in the opening Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Litton was displeased with the Indian wicket-keeper taking a single after the ball deflected off his pads following a throw.
The incident happened on the 16th over. Left-handed Jaiswal played a defensive shot towards gully, and Pant looked for a single but was sent back. The throw hit Pant’s pads and deflected to mid-on after which he took a single and got his strike back.
Litton confronted Pant, and Pant responded by saying, “Usko bhi to dekho na bhai, mujhe kyu maar rhe ho?” (Why are you hitting me? Look at what he did.)
Despite Pant’s response, the Bangladesh wicketkeeper remained unconvinced and replied, “You’re standing in front of the wicket, so of course he’s going to hit you.”
Pant delivered a counter-attacking innings when India was struggling at 34/3 in the 10th over. He and Jaiswal steadied the innings, putting together a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, helping India recover from the early setbacks.
Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to field after winning the toss, marking the first time in 42 years that a captain had chosen to bowl first at this ground.
