After suffering a defeat in the rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston, Team India bounced back to beat the hosts in the T20I and ODI series.
While the visitors clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1, they won the 50-over rubber by the same margin thanks to a special performance from Rishabh Pant in the series-deciding third ODI at Old Trafford.
Chasing 260 to win, India were reeling at 72/4 in the 17th over. Amid the pressure situation, Pant produced an unbeaten century (125 off 113 balls) to take the tourists over the line with five wickets in hand and 47 deliveries to spare.
For his match-winning knock, Rishabh Pant drew rich praises from the cricket fraternity and Pakistan pace legend Shoaib Akhtar also hailed the Indian wicketkeeper-batter.
“He has the cut shot, pull shot, reverse sweep.. he isn't afraid. He won the match in Australia, he won the match here (in England) and took India to a series victory,” Akhtar said on his official YouTube channel.
Shoaib Akhtar feels Pant can become a complete package if he improves his fitness level by losing some weight.
“He is a little overweight. I hope he takes care of that. Because India's market is big. He's good looking. He can emerge as a model, earn in crores. Because whenever a person becomes a star in India, a lot of investment is made on them,” said Akhtar.
“The talent he has, he will put oppositions in a lot of trouble. Against England, he adopted a calculated approach while pacing the innings, and then turn ruthless. He can accelerate whenever he want. In times to come, Rishabh Pant is going to be a superstar. The only one can who can stop him is Pant himself," he added.
Rishabh Pant has been rested for the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, starting July 22. The southpaw will return to action in the five-T20I series against West Indies, slated to get underway on July 29.
