Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar, while praising Rishabh Pant’s reverse scoop shot against England pacer Jofra Archer in the first T20I, said that Pant might sometimes get out while playing those shots but it's then when management should back him.
England on account of exceptional bowling performance and Jason Roy’s 49 thumped Team India by 8 wickets in the first T20I of the five-match series at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Even though England won the first T20I, but the highlight of the match was Rishabh Pant’s reverse scoop shot against Jofra Archer which went for six.
Jofra Archer after taking the wicket Kl Rahul in the first over was bowling at a lethal pace and was all over Indian batsmen, however, Rishabh Pant reverse-scooped him over wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for a six and sent fans, commentators, and former cricketers into a frenzy.
IND v ENG 2021: WATCH- Rishabh Pant plays an outrageous reverse scoop to Jofra Archer for a six
While talking about the same, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that he was left astonished with Rishabh Pant’s talent, ability, and skill level.
"To play a shot like that against a bowler who is bowling at 140-150 kph and that too when Jofra Archer followed him after seeing him getting into a position for a shot like that, and despite that he got bat to ball is praiseworthy. I was left astonished with his talent, ability, and where the skill level has gone," Sanjay Bangar told Star Sports.
Bangar said that Rishabh Pant is a match-winner and it would be necessary for Team India to encourage him to play his natural game.
"He is a special player, he is a match-winner and stroke-maker. And sometimes he will get out playing such shots. So, it will be necessary that he is encouraged to play his natural game and he will then be able to win the maximum matches for the team, the way he did in Australia," he said.
Bangar further said that Pant did a lot of hard work and added that he is a game-changer who can win matches for his team.
"He did not get much batting before the Australia tour, he did a lot of hard work. He is playing in the same fashion, he is a game-changer who wins matches for his team," he concluded.
Rishabh Pant was looking good in the first T20I against England and scored 21 runs before he was caught by Jonny Bairstow off Ben Stokes while trying to clear the mid-wicket boundary.
(Star sports Inputs)
