The second match of the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa is being played at the Boland Park Stadium. In the second ODI, Indian captain KL Rahul won the toss and decided to bat first. In the second ODI, explosive wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant played an innings of 85 runs. This is the highest score of his ODI career. With this, Rishabh Pant has become the Indian player to score the highest score in Test and ODI matches in South Africa as a wicket-keeper.
Rishabh Pant broke the records of Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni) during his innings. Dravid played an innings of 77 runs as a wicketkeeper in the year 2001 at the Durban ground. Apart from this, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had scored 65 runs at the Johannesburg ground in the year 2013. Pant hit 10 fours and two sixes in 71 balls during his innings. Pant was moving towards a century but was caught by Aiden Markram off the ball of Tabrez Shamsi.
Rishabh Pant made his ODI debut in the home series against West Indies in October 2018. He has scored 630 runs in 20 ODIs at an average of 35. He has 4 half-centuries to his name and a strike rate of 113. Talking about Test cricket, he has scored four centuries so far.
Earlier, India got the best start from the opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan-Rahul. The first wicket of the Indian innings fell in the 12th over when Shikhar Dhawan (29 runs) was caught by Sisanga Magala on the boundary in the process of playing a big shot off Markram. After this Virat Kohli landed at number three. In the very next over, Kohli gave a simple catch to captain Temba Bavuma off Keshav Maharaj. He played 5 balls but failed to open the account.
Rishabh Pant came to bat at number four. He shared a 115-run partnership with captain KL Rahul for the third wicket. Rahul scored 55 runs in 79 balls with the help of four fours. His wicket was taken by Sisanga Magala.
