Ravi Shastri has said that while people may say that Rishabh Pant’s batting may defy logic, but it is backed by a sharp cricket brain after his incredible knock against England on Day 4 of the first Test. Pant, who started the day in shaky fashion, had a talk with himself before getting into the zone and putting the England bowlers to the sword.
Right after the lunch break, Pant switched gears and started to take on the attack to England, especially Shoaib Bashir, whom he hit for two big sixes to start the onslaught. Pant became the second wicket-keeper to score twin hundreds in a Test and the seventh Indian to achieve the feat. The Indian vice-captain was finally dismissed for 118 runs off 140 balls.
ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 4 Updates
Speaking to Sky Sports, Shastri said that Pant knows when to counter-attack. The former Indian coach said that Pant’s technique can go both ways at times and he could have had Test hundreds in double digits had he converted some of his nineties.
“People say Pant’s batting defies logic but there is an element of a sharp cricket brain behind it. He knows when to counterattack.”
“It comes off on some occasions and on others it doesn’t, but if he had converted some of those seven dismissals in the 90s he would have had a double-digit number of Test hundreds,” said Shastri.
‘Pant has given India a headache’
Pant’s counter-attacking knock put India on top but Shastri feels that the wicketkeeper has given the visitors a headache as to when they should declare. However, the former Indian coach feels that the team will be happy with the knocks from Rahul and Pant.
“Pant has taken the game forward. He has given India a headache in terms of when should the declare and how many runs to they get.”
“There is plenty of food for thought but India will be very happy after a technical masterpiece from Rahul and the flamboyance and exuberance that you can’t imagine from Pant,” said Shastri.
Pant and Rahul put on 195 runs to ensure that India’s lead extended beyond 300 on Day 4.
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