India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is excited about Team India’s match against Pakistan in their first game of the T20 World Cup 2022 at the MCG on Sunday, October 23.
Although the youngster may not be a sure-shot player in the playing XI, with Dinesh Karthik getting more chances in recent months, he has enough match-winning skill to be considered an option as well.
Rishabh Pant notably faced Pakistan in last year’s T20 World Cup and scored a quickfire 30-ball 39 with some great shots. His innings proved to be important and alongside Virat Kohli, he helped the Indian team recover from their poor start in the middle overs as well.
Speaking in a video posted by the ICC, Rishabh Pant recalled that innings and the two sixes he hit off Hasan Ali’s bowling. He said:
“I fondly remember that I smacked Hasan Ali for two sixes in the same over. We were just trying to get the run rate up because we lost early wickets and we staged a partnership – me and Virat. We were increasing the run rate and I smacked him for two sixes with one hand… my special shot.”
“Teach you how to go through situations” – Rishabh Pant on Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant has batted with former Indian captain Virat Kohli several times. And, he believes that he has developed a great understanding of the senior pro as well. Their partnership against Pakistan helped India set a decent target of 152 in last year’s T20 World Cup as well.
Pant explained how Kohli communicates with all who bat with him and encourages them to take singles even if they are unable to hit the big shots.
“He (Kohli) can actually teach you how to go through situations, which might help you in your cricket journey going forward, so it is nice batting with him as always. It’s good to have someone with a lot of experience batting with you because he can take you through how to take the game on and how to maintain that run-a-ball pressure kind of thing,” Rishabh Pant concluded.
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