Inzamam-ul-Haq Hails Young Rishabh Pant

Mar 30, 2021 at 2:26 PM

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Inzamam-ul-Haq Hails Young Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has become one of the most feared players for the opposition, and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believes he was the difference between India and England in the recently concluded bilateral ODI series.

Rishabh Pant has made a dream comeback in the Indian team especially in limited-overs format this year. After an insipid run in 2019 and 2020, he found himself being left out of the team on several occasions, with KL Rahul replacing him as the first-choice keeper in the team in limited-overs cricket. Rishabh Pant’s struggles in IPL 2020 did not help either, and he was left out of India’s limited-overs squad for the Australia tour.

Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)

Rishabh Pant Doesn’t Seem Like Playing Under Pressure: Inzamam-ul-Haq

But since then, the wicketkeeper-batsman has scripted a new story for himself. His match-saving contribution in the Sydney Test and his match-winning innings in the following Brisbane Test against the mighty Aussies started a new chapter in Rishabh Pant’s career. India was without their key players due to injuries and unavailability and fielded a second-string side at Brisbane which came all guns blazing to defeat full-strength Australia.

The left-hander followed it up with another scintillating performance in the Test series against England this year and then played a crucial role in the limited over formats as well, as India won the T20I series 3-2 and ODI series 2-1. Rishabh Pant is feared by opposition nowadays and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believes he was the difference between India and England in the ODI series.

“What a player he is. After a long time, I’ve seen such a player who plays much better than you think of a player how he should be. I’ve been following him since the India tour of Australia. He doesn’t seem like playing under pressure,” Inzamam said in a video uploaded on his Youtube channel.

Inzamam-ul-Haq | AFP
Inzamam-ul-Haq | AFP

“Even in Australia, when all the seniors were out with injuries, his effortless batting at the middle-order made it look as if India haven’t lost any wicket or they aren’t playing on Australian soil. Earlier, players used to struggle while playing Down Under but Pant is not bothered at all. Earlier in the 70’s era, Vivian Richards used to be the difference between West Indies and any other side. Similarly, Pant was the difference between India and England,” Inzamam added.

Inzamam was particularly impressed by Rishabh Pant’s knock in the third ODI against England, in which the 23-year-old took the attack to the opposition and bailed his team out of a tricky position. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq lavished praise on India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and even compared him with former openers Virender Sehwag and Viv Richards.

Inzamam-ul-Haq: Rishabh Pant Once Again Played A Fine Knock As Wicket Wasn’t Easy For Spinners

Inzamam-ul-Haq further said that Rishabh Pant’s innings of 78 runs in the 3rd ODI was a tremendous achievement as it came on a wicket where batsmen were struggling against spinners.

“It wasn’t an easy wicket to score against spinners as we all saw Virat Kohli getting bowled by Moeen Ali. But Pant once again played a fine knock and scored 74 runs (78*) in 62 balls, at a strike rate of more than 100. No other batter has a strike rate of more than 100,” Inzamam said.

Rishabh Pant | AFP
Rishabh Pant | AFP

“It was a smart move by Virat that he promoted Pant up the order. India lost three senior players – Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, and the pressure was mounted on India. But Pant played an important role in releasing the pressure,” he signed off.

The 51-year-old was mighty impressed by Rishabh Pant’s century against England and said that the left-hander has proven himself at home and away.

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