50 on 50: Rishabh Pant takes out IPL wrath on Abdul Malik

Rishabh Pant returned to his favorite format in style, hitting a blistering fifty on the first day of India’s one-off Test match against Afghanistan. Pant, who was recently axed as Test vice-captain amid a dreadful run of form, took out his wrath on spinner Abdul Malik, hitting him for three huge sixes in a single over.

Rishabh Pant has had a turbulent few months as he failed to lead the Lucknow Super Giants. Bought for Rs 27 crore in the 2024 auction, Pant has been unable to take hold in the side and has endured poor performances in back-to-back IPL seasons.

IND vs AFG TEST ONLY DAY 1: MAIN | SCORECARD

When LSG slumped to the bottom of the table in the 2026 IPL season, Pant tendered his resignation as captain to relieve himself of leadership duties.

Having been relieved of the vice-captaincy in the Indian Test team, Pant arrived unencumbered for the Mullanpur Test match and handled the spin to the best of his ability on a tricky pitch that was not only two-pace but also variable bounce. Batting in the final over of the day, Pant attacked right-arm spinner Abdul Malik and absolutely thrashed the Afghan bowler.

He came down the ground and hit the spinner for a six straight down the ground before hitting a full toss for another maximum. Shaken by the batter, Malik then bowled a half-tracker onto the stumps which Pant sent over leg.

India’s former Test vice-captain remained unbeaten on 50 off 70 balls alongside his skipper Shubman Gill, who completed his century on Saturday. This was also Rishabh Pant’s 50th Test match in which he scored 3526 runs at an average of 43.50.

At the end of the first day, India were 368 for 3.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

June 6, 2026 7:45 PM IST