06 March,2021 07:00 AM IST | Ahmedabad | Harit Joshi
India’s Rishabh celebrates after scoring a century against England at Ahmedabad yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Rishabh Pant was furious and banged his pads with the bat while walking back after scoring 101 off 118 balls (13x4, 2x6). He knew that the delivery from pacer James Anderson was there to be sent to the fence, but instead he hit it straight to England skipper Joe Root at short midwicket.
However, the impact of Pant's knock tilted the balance in India's favour and ensured they virtually have one foot in the World Test Championships final. Pant's knock also provided some much-needed relief to the hosts who were in a spot of bother at 146-6 at one stage on Day Two of the fourth and final Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Friday.
Pant's 113-run seventh-wicket partnership in the day's last session with Washington Sundar, batting on 60, helped India end the day at 294-7, with a lead of 89. Once considered a reckless, irresponsible batsman, Pant is turning out to be India's crisis man thanks to some crucial knocks under pressure. His unbeaten 89 at Brisbane and 97 at Sydney in the series against Australia earlier this year proved his maturity with the willow.
Till tea on Friday, nothing seemed to be going India's way. Barring Rohit Sharma's patient 49 off 144 balls, the Indian top order didn't contribute much despite a watchful start.
Pant took 82 balls for his half century, but once India surpassed England's first innings tally of 205, the southpaw cut loose, scoring his next 50 runs off just 33 balls (9x4, 1x6).
Pant hit Anderson, England's best bowler of the day, for a boundary over slips with an audacious lap shot to enter the nineties. And, then a slog sweep for a six off Root brought up his maiden ton on home soil, third overall.
"I just see the ball and react to it, that's the USP of my cricket," is how Pant summed up his daredevil approach.
Interestingly, the Delhi dasher was not all boom-boom, but also took some calculated and smart risks when it mattered. Just before England were due for the second new ball, Pant smashed two fours each off Stokes and Root as India claimed 26 runs in the three overs. This year has been an amazing turnaround for Pant, who lost his place in the playing XI across all three formats before the Coronavirus halted cricketing tours around the world.
Rohit felt that the team management's backing and Pant's ability to learn quickly are the reasons for his success. "Pant has his own style of batting. Of course, there are messages from the team management about how he should approach his batting, but he seems to be getting the job done and that's important. You saw him trusting his defence. There have been times when he would play shots and get out. But for people like Pant, you need to back their skills and abilities. The team management understands that. And it's a great feeling for a player to know that he has everyone's backing," Rohit said.
Now, it's just a matter of putting up a consistent show for Pant to reclaim his place in the ODI and T20 formats, and fill the void left by MS Dhoni's retirement. However, Rohit felt that Pant is "almost ready" to take over the mantle from the former India skipper.
Sourav Ganguly@SGanguly99:
How good is he? Unbelievable..what a knock under pressure...not the first time and won't be the last time..will be an all time great in all formats in the years to come.keep batting in this aggressive manner .thats why will be match winner and special..@bcci @RishabhPant17
