India’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to New Zealand is both shocking and heartbreaking for Indian fans. They could never have imagined, even in their wildest dreams, that their team—one of the powerhouses of world cricket—would struggle on pitches they frequently play on during their first-class careers and home series.
One positive aspect for India regarding their batting line-up is Rishabh Pant’s current form. His performance on a challenging pitch in Mumbai during both innings demonstrated his skill; he is both fearless and sensible, possessing the courage to face any bowler in the world.
Almost two years following a life-threatening accident, Pant returned to Test cricket for India in September against Bangladesh, making an immediate impact by scoring an impressive 109 in Chennai. He dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers around the Chepauk ground, demonstrating his eagerness to represent his country and showing that his body has sufficiently recovered to handle the demands of Test cricket.
India has produced numerous wicket-keeper batsmen since the inception of test cricket, ranging from Kirmani to More and Mongia to Dhoni. However, let’s concentrate on RishabhPant and what sets him apart.
Attacking instinct
Since his under-19 days, Pant has consistently been an active player at the crease, prioritizing the opportunity to capitalize on any loose deliveries from bowlers. He prefers to take control of the game rather than relying on a more conservative approach, and this style of play forces opposing captains to adjust their strategies.
Has every cricketing shot in his book
The young man from Delhi possesses a complete range of shots in his repertoire, from cuts and pulls to conventional sweeps and reverse sweeps. However, the most crucial aspect of his game is his impeccable defense, which allows him to capitalize on the bowling by hitting big shots or simply nudging the ball for quick singles. Additionally, he can play genuine defensive strokes to convey to his opponents that he intends to bat for an extended period rather than just making a brief appearance.
Comfortable Against Both Pace and Spin
Rishabh Pant has an incredible amount of confidence in his skills at such a young age, which generates a thrilling atmosphere whenever he bats. It’s always an edge-of-the-seat experience when he faces a bowler, as he can unleash a remarkable variety of strokes, including some unconventional ones like the reverse sweep against fast bowlers. One of the most memorable instances was the reverse sweep he executed against the great swing bowler Jimmy Anderson. While playing spin bowling, he understands that the only strategy is to attack, preventing the spinners from settling into a specific line. He has hit one-handed sixes against slow bowlers multiple times.
Mentally Strong
Returning from a life-threatening accident, where many believed he would never return to the field, he defied the odds and made a remarkable comeback. His impressive mental strength was evident in the two half-centuries he scored on the challenging pitch at Wankhede, demonstrating that difficult surfaces do not faze him. While other batsmen struggle on such pitches, Pant thrives due to his positive mindset.
He never hesitates to step out of his crease to hit bowlers over their heads, instilling fear in their minds. This was clearly demonstrated during the Mumbai Test, where Ajaz Patel, the most successful bowler from New Zealand, struggled against Pant while managing to create numerous challenges for the other batsmen.
Nimble On his Feet
One thing that every cricket expert observes about Pant’s batting style is his skill in using his feet against spinners. He effectively utilizes the depth of the crease to pull back and place the ball into gaps, and suddenly he dances down the wicket to hit bowlers for sixes. This attitude instills doubt in bowlers’ minds, giving him an advantage as a batsman. He effortlessly sweeps spinners who attempt to bowl negatively by delivering very wide of the stumps, showcasing his talent by stretching his arms and sweeping them with ease.
Mixing Caution With Aggression The Rishabh Pant Way
While Pant has demonstrated, particularly in the series against New Zealand, he is becoming a bit more cautious after playing aggressive shots, more needs to happen.
Rishabh Pant needs to adopt this approach more consistently. His tendency to score rapidly can lead to reckless shots, resulting in his swift exit from the crease. Gaining more experience through test matches over time will help him mature and truly develop into a world-class test batsman.
To sum up, Team India has been in pursuit of a dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket for quite some time, often feeling envious of players like Adam Gilchrist, the iconic Australian wicketkeeper-batsman known for his exceptional talent to rise to the occasion during challenging moments, consistently saving his team with his aggressive approach to the game.
At last, we have Rishabh Pant, who is capable of delivering similar performances. Since his Test debut for India, Pant has played several crucial innings, particularly his outstanding 89 runs that played a key role in India’s remarkable victory at the Gabba and clinched the series win in Australia in 2021.
