Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has left everyone in awe of him and the latest one is Harbhajan Singh with his impressive batting performance in the fourth and final Test against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Pant came in to bat when Indians were in a precarious position at 80/4 with the top four batsmen in the pavilion, as the left-hander cracked 101 off 118 balls laced with 13 boundaries and two sixes to take India to 294/7 against England on Day 2.
Following the knock, Pant has been applauded by many for his show and left the cricket world talking, but one of his shots – reverse sweep off England’s veteran pacer James Anderson has left Harbhajan most impressed with the youngster. Pant played the reverse sweep off Anderson that flew over the slips and to the boundary in the first ball of the 83rd over of the Indian innings.
Lauding for the shot against one of the greats of Test cricket in Anderson, Harbhajan said “you need guts to play a shot like that” and it will remain in the English star’s mind for a long time.
Harbhajan Singh said during a discussion on Star Sports: “Credit to him. You need guts to play a shot like that. This shot will remain in Jimmy Anderson's mind for a long time. When he retires and thinks about the best shots that have been played against him, this shot will cause him pain because it is a question of ego that a small kid played a reverse sweep against such a big bowler.”
He continued, “When he achieved the 206-run target, he got back to his real form which all of us liked. Jimmy Anderson would also be thinking if he is the same Rishabh Pant who was defending when he was bowling to him with the old ball and attacking him when he has the new ball.”
The off-spinner also believes that Pant has become a totally different player since the tour of Australia earlier this year. He pointed out, “His innings was absolutely phenomenal. Since the time he has come back from Australia, the runs he has scored there, he is a totally different player.”
He signed off by saying, “He is taking the responsibility on his shoulder and got a great understanding of his game and is playing according to the demands of the situation. His natural game is that of a stroke-player who can demolish any bowler but he showed today that if it is not required, you also need to know how to defend. He generally plays the big shots against the spinners but he gave himself the time to settle as the team needed him to play cautiously and build a partnership.”
