Rishabh Pant Bags 2018 ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer Award
Jan 22, 2019 at 2:31 PM
The promising youngster for the Indian National Cricket Team on Tuesday (January 22) has clinched the award for being named as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Emerging Cricketer for 2018. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had a remarkable year, particularly in the Test fold.
In September 2018, Pant became first Indian wicket-keeper batsman to smash a hundred in England. Moreover, while donning the whites, he followed it with a magnificent 159* against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Eventually, India clinched the four-match series 2-1.
Surpasses Wriddhiman Saha:
Interestingly, Pant also equally the record of most catches taken in the Test fold during the third Test in Adelaide, last year. He surpassed the record of Wriddhiman Saha who bagged ten catches in the Test match.
Pant equally the record of South Africa’s AB de Villiers. He recorded the milestone against Pakistan in 2013 alongside England’s Jack Russell, who snared 11 catches in 1995 against South Africa in Johannesburg.
His eleventh catch came on the bowling of Mohammed Shami who got better of Mitchell Starc. Pant made his name in the record books by claiming six catches in the first innings before settling with five in the second essay.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2018, Pant has backed himself to put up a stellar performance. At the average of 49.71, he amassed 696 runs with the help of two hundreds and as many half-centuries in nine Tests. While donning the gloves, Pant has proved his mettle by claiming 40 catches and added two stumpings to his name.
However, Pant has to prove himself in the limited-overs fold. In 2018, he scored 41 in three ODIs and 114 runs in eight Twenty20 Internationals. He also claimed three catches in the 50-over after making his debut against the Windies at Guwahati in October 2018.
Pant’s emergence signifies the bench strength of Team India. It would also be interesting to see how the national selectors would see him before announcing the 2019 World Cup squad. Pant who himself revealed that he had been closely following Dhoni.
As of now, Pant is bracing himself for a challenge for India A against the England Lions. He has been named for the final two one-dayers of the five-match series.
Here’s the tweet:
Congratulations to @RishabPant777, the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2018! 🇮🇳
He became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in England, and equalled the record for the most catches taken in a Test, with 11 in Adelaide in December.#ICCAwards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/s5yQBuwWlv
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019