- The on-going four-Test match series between India and England has been fascinating and exciting dishing out some incredibly satisfying fare from both sides. Of course, India sits pretty with a 2-1 lead and the final Test underway in newly refurbished Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera, Ahmedabad promises to go the way of the home side as it stands at the end of the second day’s play. Right from the first Test match played in Chennai, the talks have certainly veered around the cricket pitch taking away the focus from some extraordinary display of skills, gumption, and awe-inspiring performances from unexpected quarters.
PC: nationalherald india
- Lesser heralded players have come to the party in dishing out a quality exhibition of their skill sets enthralling the purists and proponents of the longer version of the game. The emergence of newer players with a devil-may-care attitude, especially from the Indian young players is bound to hearten the aficionados as well as Team management. One of the leading lights of such an extraordinary exploit on the field of cricket has been that of hard-hitting batsman-wicket keeper Rishabh Pant who lit the dazzling new stadium yesterday with a scintillating knock of 101 in 118 deliveries with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes. What a sensational power-filled hitting by the diminutive dazzler.
- When most of the accomplished senior players with impeccable records and credentials struggled to put up a decent score as also pace the innings on a not so easy track to bat, the way pocket dynamo went about judiciously combining defending when required and going berserk as the opportunity presented was a treat to watch. The precocious talent of Rishabh Pant was never in doubt is stating the obvious. And the maturity with which Pant paced his innings yesterday without allowing the opposition bowlers to dictate terms speaks volumes about the shrewd cricketing brain developing as he soaks in the experience of more exposure at the international level.
PC: Aakash Chatterjee
- The way he went about attacking the redoubtable paceman James Anderson after the second new ball was taken is nothing short of magical. Audaciously stepping out to drive, unbelievable reverse sweep executed with precision, and booming drives down the ground were simply outstanding frustrating the England team who were nursing hopes of gaining a lead when the Indian team was struggling at 146/6. If Team India finds itself in a comfortable position with a substantial first-innings lead, it is largely owing to the efforts of Pant’s pyrotechnics alongside equally pleasing on the eye batting efforts of another promising youngster Washington Sundar (not out 60).
- The history of cricket suggests that all-conquering Test teams of yore always had one or two impact players who could change the course of the match with their performances in a matter of an hour or two. Team India should be feeling ecstatic for they have found in Pant that X-factor to build a group that will believe unflinchingly to overcome any challenges to succeed despite facing tricky situations/encounters. Keep up the good work Rishabh, you still have miles to traverse! Of course, never change your playing style but exercise caution when the situation demands!
