IND v ENG 2021: WATCH – Rohit Sharma calls Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar important assets for Team India

Pant and Sundar played vital knocks to put India in a commanding position in the fourth Test.

Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar | GettyIndia opener Rohit Sharma on Friday (March 5) called Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar important assets for the team after their stellar showing with the bat on Day 2 of the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad.

Pant smashed 101 while Sundar remained unbeaten on 60 as the hosts piled up 294/7 by stumps on Day 2, leading England by 89 runs in the first innings.

See Also: Cricket fraternity stunned by Rishabh Pant's reverse-sweep shot off James Anderson

"You both are very important assets for the team because you guys do more than one skill. Your (Sundar) bowling is very important for the team... Rishabh, your keeping was so encouraging to watch. You seem to be working every day on your keeping which is why we see the results as well on the field. I understand it is not easy keeping on pitches like that," Rohit said in a video shared on BCCI's website.

Having started cautiously, Pant wreaked havoc on the English bowlers in the final session. The wicketkeeper-batsman played some extraordinary strokes against the new ball to put India in a commanding position.

Commenting on Pant's approach, Rohit said: "We saw two half of Rishabh Pant today, the first half of Rishabh Pant was nice, compact and you were respecting the good balls and but at the same time, you were trying to press on the bad balls as well. That was good to see.

"But the second half was completely different. It was important to play those shots on a pitch like that because we know that the pitch is not easy to keep batting like that."

Replying to Rohit, Pant said: "The only game plan I had was to just see the ball and hit my shot after we got the lead."

Rohit, who scored 49 in India’s first innings, also asked Sundar about his feeling after this unbeaten knock.

"Amazing (feeling) honestly. I should thank the management and senior players for keeping faith in me. I just wanted to play my natural game. After about 15-20 balls, I thought if I could just defend and spend a lot of time in the middle, I would be able to get runs and also put the team in a better position. Very glad that it happened today," the young all-rounder replied.

(With ANI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 06 Mar, 2021

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