‘Your ego gets hurt…’: Pujara impressed by how Pant absorbed body blows on Day 2 of IND vs SL 2nd Test
2 min readAug 24, 2026 04:39 PM IST
Rishabh Pant took a lot of blows to his body on Day 2 of the 2nd Test between India and Sri Lanka, after already having retired hurt on Day 1, and former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was impressed by how his former teammate handled the situation. Pujara has seen Pant flying at the other end in the past while taking blows himself, notably during India’s 2020/21 Test series in Australia.
“Your ego gets hurt when you get hit on the body,” said Pujara on Sony during the Lunch time show on Day 2. Pant had finished the session on a score of 63, having made his half-century in 81 balls. “Should I try and play a pull shot, should I keep leaving the ball, do I have to wait for my time, and that decision is very important. I think Rishabh made the right decision today. He kept leaving the ball but when his time came, he played his shots. And that contribution with Dhruv Jurel, that partnership was very important for Team India.”
Pant had retired hurt on three runs off 15 balls after taking a blow to the left forearm from fast bowler Lahiru Kumara. Pant went through his shot a little too early. However, he was seen padded up and ready to bat towards the end of the day. He ended up returning only at the start of the 87th over on Day 2 when Saransh Jain fell to Asitha Fernando.
India were in a sticky position at that point, with the score reading 307/6. However, Pant and Jurel ground out spells from pacers Lahiru and Asitha Fernando and ensured that India didn’t lose a wicket in the session. Pant in particular accelarated towards the end of the session and the pair put up a partnership of 112 runs in 152 balls. It ended off the first ball of the second session, though, when Pant danced down the track to Keshara Nuwantha and hit it straight into the hands of the fielder at long-off.
