Rishabh Pant, India’s star from the Edgbaston Test has exceeded his Test proficiency after another successful overseas stint. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 349 runs in 9 innings against England in the recently concluded Test series (5 matches).
Particularly, with wicketkeeping gloves on, Pant has 18 dismissals in his account, in the series. Pant was just amazing behind the stumps, catching extremely swinging and bouncing deliveries of the Indian pacers.
Sanjay Manjrekar was asked if Pant, the batter has impressed and he replied saying, ‘No doubt about that’. Manjrekar, furthermore stated that Pant has defined himself as a ‘potential great,’ and Pant’s four centuries away from home, is an incredible achievement. Manjrekar was speaking on Sony Sports.
Manjrekar also went on to discuss Pant’s wicketkeeping improvements. He admitted that he was a little suspicious about the 24-year-old’s glove-work in English conditions, but he liked Pant’s dedication and called it ‘strikingly brilliant.
The former India batter-turned commentator said: “I just love how seriously he has taken that (wicketkeeping) job. Because, after doing well with the bat, you can sometimes ease off. I was a little skeptical about his ability as a keeper, especially in these kind of conditions. The big news for India is the growth of Pant the wicketkeeper.”
The 56-year-old also quoted: “You don’t see him chattering much around the stumps. He has taken the job very seriously, and his improvement has been remarkable, just like Dhoni. How he sort of improved as a keeper. I loved his commitment because you can take this job a little easy while being so successful as a batter. It’s strikingly brilliant.”
Rishabh Pant shines in Edgbaston Test
Besides, Pant was at his prime during the Edgbaston Test, as the left-hand batter scored 203 runs, including a wonderful century in the first innings and a crucial fifty in the second.
Although, despite Pant and Ravindra Jadeja’s heroics in the first innings, the Indian lineup collapsed in the second innings. Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara’s half-centuries aided India to set a huge target of 378 runs for England.
In reply, the firm English openers started well and hundreds from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow ended it really well. England’s five wins in the last five Test matches at home have hinted at the Bazball era, incoming. The Pataudi Trophy is now over with the result 2-2.
Written By Prachi Pisal
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