From Spider-Man to Milkha Singh: One-of-a-kind commentary by Pant

Skipper Virat Kohli was right when he said that Rishabh Pant is "a guy who likes to have fun on the field", adding that he "keeps the boys entertained and conversation out there is very helpful when the situation is tough and things are not going your way". Given his hilarious reactions behind the stumps, it seems like he much more entertaining personality than the commentators who are sitting in the commentary box. After his iconic Spider-Man theme song ending with “tune churaya mere dil ka chain”, he did not disappoint the viewers again on Sunday.

Read some of the compilations - “Ollie Pope ko Lollipop do”, “Thoda sa aage, Milkha Singh bhaage” and “Ball ghoomega toh yeh jhoomega.” The 23-year-old who has been good with both bat and wicket-keeping does not back down to enjoy his time on the field even when things are not going well for Team India.

There are times when players feel dull when a good partnership is well between the opponents, but Pant decides to keep everyone on their toes with some funny songs, comments, cheering, or screaming. Prior to him, everyone was fascinated by MS Dhoni's comments behind the stumps. There are even several compilations videos of him that is still watched by every cricket fan. Pant is surely not India’s first talker-in-chief, however, he is a unique one.

"He’s (Pant) a guy who likes to have fun on the field. That’s his personality and essence. We want him to continue going in that manner because that keeps the boys entertained and conversation out there is very helpful when the situation is tough and things are not going your way. His personality is very helpful for the team. He brings in a lot of energy and we want him to continue the same way."- Virat Kohli on Rishabh Pant

On Sunday, we witnessed,“Kheench le, aage daal, side me daal, paer me daal. Upar daal. Tez daal. Dande sey daal, Upar daal. (Draw back the length, bowl fuller, bowl on the side, bowl on the feet, bowl ahead, bowl quicker, bowl from the stumps, bowl fuller) on the field. At one point, he even asked Axar Patel to “subah wala daal” (bowl the morning one) and Patel turned and quizzically wondered, “Kaun sa?! (Which one?!).

Pant certainly does not feel dull, even after he drops catches or misses a stumping. He is always seen encouraging bowlers to keep up energy, constantly talking to fielders, giving ideas to the bowlers, and trying to disturb the concentration of batsmen, too. He even succeeds to do his job when necessary. Pant plucked out one-handed catches to dismiss Pope and Jack Leach off Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma.

Similarly, India’s wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was in full flow on Sunday.

“Thoda sa aage, thoda sa aage. Milkha Singh bhaage, pyaara Axar jaage.”
“Ollie Pope ko lollipop do.”
“Ball ghoomega toh yeh jhoomega.”
“Fasega, fasega. Maza aane lagega.”
“6 ball daal babu idhar. Angle bohot tagda hai tera, khelna hi padega.”
“Pehle hi peeche khada hai (laughs), muh pe bhi daal sakta hai isko.”