"Rishabh Pant Era has started"- Twitterati erupts as southpaw slams best ODI score

Rishabh Pant continued his sensational form with a blistering knock of 78 in the third ODI against England in Pune. The 23-year-old went past his previous best ODI score of 77 which he had racked up in the last game.

The youngster once again looked all set to reach his maiden ODI hundred. But this time he was undone by a one-handed stunner from stand-in England skipper Jos Buttler. Rishabh Pant tried to work Sam Curran's outside off-stump delivery towards the leg side, but edged it behind, departing for another impactful knock.

Twitter hails Rishabh Pant for another carnage in Pune

Rishabh Pant was gutted and looked livid with himself for playing across the line. Some fans on Twitter resonated with the 23-year-old's emotions as a century was there for the taking. But they also hailed the swashbuckling left-hander for yet another knock that changed the course of the Indian innings.

Here's what the fans had to say about Rishabh Pant's blitzkrieg:

Rishabh Pant’s awesome innings comes to an end at 78. He’s edged it to Buttler behind the stumps (b. S Curran). Pant played a stunning knock. Can’t not be excited watching him bat. Love watching him. 🇮🇳🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#INDvENG

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant completes 2,000 international runs as a Wicketkeeper. He took 60 innings to reach the landmark. MS Dhoni also reached 2,000 international runs in 60 innings.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant is outrageously good! I just don’t think you understand 😛🇮🇳🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#INDvENG

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 28, 2021

Although I want @englandcricket to win I didn’t want @RishabhPant17 to get out , he’s so good to watch 👏🏼@robkey612 @SkyCricket

— Andrew Flintoff (@flintoff11) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant has at least missed 5 centuries in last year or so due to his fearless approach.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 28, 2021

No Rishabh Pant, now prove yourself in T10 cricket.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant ERA has started: pic.twitter.com/pFDugsuGeN

— Abhishek Tripathi (@Abhithecomic) March 28, 2021

In another 3-4 years would like to see Rishabh Pant opening the innings in Limited Overs cricket! Can be a high impact player in the top order. Should continue to bat at 6 in Tests. Thoughts?

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant could be that X-factor in the ODI setup. Can bat at any position. Attacks spin regularly & never let's them settle. If he's set, he can be dangerous in the final 10. If India have to get 350-375 in ODIs, Pant's aggression in the middle overs will be the key

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant was dropped from no 4 after WC. Pant was dropped from white ball squad after concussion. This guy was forced to play out of his natural game. He himself came back, he himself earned it, only him deserves the credit to comeback like this.

— Manish (@iHitman55) March 28, 2021

Well played, Rishabh Pant - 78 runs from 62 balls including 5 fours and 4 sixes - he came to bat when India lost 3 wickets in the space of 18 runs in just 3 overs. Rishabh Freak Pant. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/nLriqTmyCm

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 28, 2021

India have the two batsmen who’ve matured and improved the most in the last 6 months or so in the middle together. Hardik Pandya & Rishabh Pant perhaps are also the most adaptable batsmen in this current squad #IndvEng

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) March 28, 2021

Rishabh Pant walked out to bat when India had already lost two quick wickets, despite the openers putting on a century-stand. Wickets kept on tumbling at the other end and in no time, the hosts were reeling at 157-4. All eyes were on Pant to see how he was going to approach this mini-collapse.

England's Adil Rashid was the chief destroyer with two wickets up to that point. By clobbering England's best bowler of the day over mid-wicket, Rishabh Pant made his intentions pretty clear. Twice in two innings, Pant came out with a counter-attacking brand of cricket that England certainly didn't anticipate.

Be it Rashid, Moeen Ali or even part-timer Liam Livingstone, Pant didn't let any of the England spinners dictate terms to him. He just found a way to get a big shot at regular intervals and didn't let the visitors put any kind of pressure on him.

Pant's 99-run stand with Hardik Pandya put India in a strong position to score close to the 350-run mark. However, with both the set batsmen having perished now, a lot will depend on how the likes of Krunal Pandya and Shardul Thakur bat.

England's belligerent batting in the second ODI proved that anything below 350 could well be within their reach.