Rishabh Pant’s stocks as a limited-overs batsman have gone a notch above in IPL 2018. Despite Delhi Daredevils poor showing this season, Pant finished the campaign as a leading run-scorer. Having amassed 684 runs in 14 innings with 1 century and 5 fifties, Rishabh is currently the highest run-getter of IPL 2018.
In his recent interview with The Economic Times, Pant reflected on his stellar IPL 2018 campaign, saying: "It has been a very good season personally. I would have loved for our team to win a many more matches but we lost a few close games. I wasn’t able to do what I wanted when I played for India. There was pressure and I was perhaps feeling it a little too much. When you play international sport there is always pressure and I have now been able to adjust to it and come to terms with it.”
When asked if the aggressive style of batting comes naturally to him, the 20-year-old said: “I used to go in with the mindset that I have to hit sixes – how many sixes I hit was most important for me. Then I realised there is more to it. I had to make an adjustment and I have been able to implement it in this year’s tournament. I love to play aggressively and that’s how I would want to play my cricket. It isn’t forced and not something that I have to push myself to do. So the freedom comes naturally to me.”
Pant has represented India in 4 T20Is thus far, scoring 73 runs at a below bar average of 24.33.
Talking about his early struggle in international cricket, the Delhi lad asserted: “When you play international cricket you encounter players who have huge reputations. They are quality players and you are bound to struggle against them. IPL allows you the opportunity to play each of these players in the nets. We had (Ngidi) Rabada and (Chris) Morris last year. We have (Trent) Boult and (Mohammed) Shami this year. When you play them regularly in the nets, that apprehension goes away and you are more confident when you play them on international stage.”
Pant has impressed one and all with his consistently amazing performances in domestic cricket as well. He was amongst the highest run-getters in 2016 Ranji Trophy.
On being asked if his batsmanship in IPL 2018 is the best he has ever done, Pant said: “There is always scope for improvement and I have to improve a lot. But I have enjoyed my batting this season and to be able to score important runs for your team is always a pleasing experience. (But) I can definitely do better.”
