Former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim has attributed Rishabh Pant's dismissal on Day 2 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Delhi to fatigue and dehydration rather than a lapse in shot selection, after the left-hander fell for 81 off 121 balls. Pant had looked fluent and composed for much of his innings before miscuing an attacking stroke to be caught at mid-off off Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.

Karim's Reading of the Dismissal

Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Karim said he had been anticipating a substantial knock from Pant given the control the batter had shown. 'I was expecting a big knock from Rishabh Pant because he seemed to be in control, despite that outside edge for which no review was taken,' Karim said.

The former national selector added that signs of physical strain were visible in the over preceding the dismissal. 'I felt that an over before his dismissal, he was beginning to lose energy. He didn't seem to have too much gas left in the tank. He required some treatment from the physio, and I think he was getting dehydrated. So perhaps it was a lapse in concentration more than anything else,' he said.

An Uncharacteristic Shot

Karim also noted that the stroke Pant played was out of keeping with his usual approach to big hitting. 'Rarely do you see Rishabh Pant go for a big shot when both long-on and long-off are stationed on the boundary. He was simply trying to accelerate but didn't get the right ball to play that shot,' he observed.

Karim elaborated that Pant's trademark aggression is typically built on decisive footwork and careful ball selection. 'Whenever he decides to go big, he is usually very decisive with his footwork and the deliveries he chooses to attack,' he added.

Pant's Role in India's Commanding Total

Despite the early exit, Pant's innings proved pivotal. India declared their first innings at 564/8, establishing a commanding position in the match. Pant fell 19 runs short of what would have been his seventh Test century, having batted in partnership with skipper Shubman Gill.

Notably, Pant had been removed as India's vice-captain ahead of the series, with the role handed to KL Rahul. His aggressive yet measured batting, however, underlined his continued importance to the Test setup.

Context and What to Watch

The conditions in New Delhi on 7 June were demanding, with extreme heat adding a physical dimension to the Test. Karim's assessment points to a broader challenge India face — managing player workloads in high-temperature home conditions. With India firmly in control at 564/8 declared, attention now turns to how the bowling attack performs against Afghanistan's batting lineup.