Legend already? Pant on path of overtaking Dhoni as Asia's best wicketkeeper-batter in SENA conditions
Since his Test debut in 2018, there have been several words that have defined Pant's game, especially in overseas conditions. counter-attacking, bold, audacious, stubborn, risky, foolish, match-turning, etc. It could leave fans and opponents stunned for a second and then, fuming at him the very next second, because of a rash shot that landed in a fielder's hands somewhere. But one thing is for sure: Pant in Test cricket is a blockbuster act, both for his unpredictability and intelligent crisis management.
The fact that four out of his six centuries have come in SENA conditions speaks volumes about his adaptability in tough situations. During his past tours to Australia and England, fans have seen him knock around a few deliveries for singles and doubles to assess the pitch and then put his 'Spidey' suit on to perform batting acrobatics like no others. Pant falling on the ground while attempting a shot, the bat slipping out of his hand while taking the aerial route, or him unleashing a one-handed sixer, one can never predict what is coming next.
One more century during this England tour, starting from Friday, will witness him score his fifth century in SENA conditions, the most by an Asian batter. One each has come in South Africa, two in England, and one in Australia.
Also, another century will take his Test century count to seven, the most by an Indian batter, surpassing MS Dhoni's tally of six tons.
Currently in SENA, Pant has scored 1,681 runs in 26 Tests and 48 innings at an average of 37.35, with four centuries and five fifties. A half-century is all he needs to become the top run-getter among all Asians in SENA conditions, overtaking Dhoni, who has scored 1,731 runs in 32 matches and 60 innings at an average of 31.47, with 13 half-centuries.
With a 24-year-old Dhruv Jurel hot on his heels with consistent performances for India A, it is extremely important that Pant has a fine series in England. While a player of Pant's calibre cannot be dropped so easily, he did have an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, with 255 runs in nine innings at an average of 28.33 and just one fifty. (ANI)
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Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
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NDTV
19 minutes ago
- NDTV
Shubman Gill Says He 'Stopped Enjoying Batting', Then Did This Before England Tour
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India.com
30 minutes ago
- India.com
Rishabh Pant shows frustration as Shubman Gill reports Harry Brook's time-wasting to umpire
Harry Brook. New Delhi: On the one hand, whether it is forming an alliance in the middle of the pitch or representing the future of Indian cricket, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill have been in the limelight during the recent England tour. Pant hit the century in both innings in the first Test, Gill scoring his personal then best Test score to shut doubts over the Indian batting after Kohli and Rohit. During the second Test of the series in Birmingham, Pant failed to capitalize on his innings but Gill grabbed the headlines by making a colossal 269, a record-breaking display. However, this time their stand was not as long as effective. Gill and Pant have been playing as a synchronized pair on the field, a phrase that commonly goes to bowlers but is apt in their case. They have performed exceptionally well to rattle the English bats with their role as captain and vice-captain. The two joined forces late on Day 2 to mount pressure on Harry Brook who seemed to be stalling the game deliberately. Harry Brook's time wasting tactitcs Brook tried his best to make sure that the 19th over of England, bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, was to be last of the day. To achieve that, he resorted to traditional time wasting methods. Having received the first delivery, he moved off to loosen his gloves — and once again on getting the third ball. Rishabh Pant did not like this deliberate time-wasting. 'Bowler is ready,' Pant told the umpire, who took note of it and advised Brook to take strike instead of wasting time. After facing the next ball, Brook went to the middle of the pitch to tap it. 'What is this? Every ball? He's taking time to get ready every ball,' Pant yelled with his arms apart. The next ball was bowled by Jadeja and he defended. This happened to the despair of Brooj, Jadeja yet again manages to finish the over with one minute remaining before the scheduled end of play. When the players changed ends, Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill moved to the umpire to complain against the intentional time-wasting strategies of Brook. 'I can't (physically) push the batter,' the umpire replied, trying to make Gill understand that they have already warned Brook. Joe Root and Harry Brook were able to conclude the final over by Prasidh Krishna and the English team went into stumps at 77/3, however, still trailing the Indian team by a mammoth 510 runs.
