ENG vs IND | Twitter smirks as Pant mockingly anticipates and foils Woakes’ left-field ploy

Today at 8:36 PM

Bowlers hate nothing more than flat decks with little to offer, especially when facing efficient run scorers who make their fruitless toils feel that much more painful. Chris Woakes was in the midst of one such spell in Leeds on Saturday with his every effort thwarted comfortably by India.

‌India seized further control of the first Test at Headingley on Saturday with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant extending their overnight stand of 139 to 209 runs before England could effect their first dismissal of the morning. The hosts even had just a five-overs old ball to aid their cause, but both batters counterattacked any opportunity they got to keep the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate. During this toil, skipper Ben Stokes and his band of bowlers were forced to think of left-field ideas in a hope of extracting scalps, one of which earned a derisive snide from the chirpy wicket-keeper batter up against them.

Midway through the 93rd over, into the fourth and penultimate set of his spell, Woakes tried to flummox Pant with a slow full delivery clocking at just a little over 100 kph. Pant, who had last hit a boundary three overs ago and missed out on the previous delivery which was short and wide, exercised restraint as he carefully watched the ball onto his bat and nudged it forward innocuously. He immediately shot a knowing look at Woakes, who could not suppress a smile either before returning to his mark. Pant, meanwhile, told skipper Gill, “Isko laga ki frustrate hogya, maarega iss baal pe [He thought I am frustrated and will go after this ball],” in between chuckles.

Twitterati had their share of fun with the entertaining exchange.

Sorry!

“Sorry, Woakesy!” 😅

Just Rishabh-Panti things — mischief, mind games & masti! 🎭🎙

Pant’s hilarious banter with Woakes is peak Test entertainment — and yes, it's all in good humour. 🫶

ICYMI, watch this golden moment from Day 4 unfold! 1st Test Day 4 LIVE NOW Streaming…
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia)

LOL

Pant To Woakes: "Paki hui ball itna tame se khelane ke chakkar mein chut rahi hai"

Next delivery he steps out of crease and hit a boundary and convey a message to Woakes.

Pant: "Sorry Woaksey"
— CricInformer (@CricInformer)

Special

RISHABH PANT ON STUMP MIC " SORRY WOAKES I AM NOT READY"
— THE CRICKET HAPPY (@THECRICKET50)

Just Pant

“Sorry, Woakesy!” 😅

Just Rishabh Pant being Rishabh Pant — mischief, mind games & full-on masti! 🎭🔥

His cheeky banter with Woakes is peak Test match entertainment — all in good humour! 🫶
— Gaurav (@k_gauravs)

Goosebumps

Goosebumps man.

Pant is such a unique and talented cricketer and to think the game almost lost him to a horrific injury and now he’s back playing his game his way is so good to see !

Real showman and entertainer.

Exceptional player , back to back hundreds in England is just wow
— Matthew Bauer (@MB5Plug)

Beauty

Rishabh Pant you beauty, played out the tricky period where Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Woakes bowled tight lines.
— Amrit Pradhan (@amritpradhan63)

Fearless

Rishabh Pant played all days, first' batting n then wkt keeping 😂 has to come early this morning as Gill chopped the ball on his stumps.. He fearlessly slashed Woakes over slip 😂
— Cric_Lover 🏏 (@ankit_bhattar)

Not ready

RISHABH PANT NOT READY WOAKES STOP RUNNING 🌟
— THE CRICKET HAPPY (@THECRICKET50)

Yup

Nasser Hussain on KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant moment:

“Rahul didn’t throw Pant under the bus — Pant wasn’t ready, so KL pointed to extra cover and held Woakes back. Smart awareness.” 🧠👏
— BharatBuzz (@Bharat__Buzz)

Madman