Ahmedabad: India opener Rohit Sharma was bowled over by Rishabh Pant’s attacking century on Day 2 of the fourth and final Test match against England in Ahmedabad, saying that it was probably the left-hander’s best knock he had seen.
The 23-year-old swashbuckling batsman’s century put India in a commanding position as the hosts took a solid first-innings lead over England. “In my opinion, it was one of his finest knocks. It came under pressure as well. We weren’t in a good position when he came in to bat and we saw a few sides of his batting today. He was cautious at the beginning and then he flourished the he way know him and put the team in command,” Rohit said after the match.
Pant scored a brilliant century on Friday coming out to bat when India have lost four wickets already. Pant then added 41 runs with Rohit Sharma (49) and a 113-run unbeaten partnership with Washington Sundar for the seventh wicket. He hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 118 balls. Sundar returned unbeaten after scoring 60 runs on the second day.
“When they came inside during the tea break, the message was to both of them was first we need to get the lead and try and press from there. Once they did that, he played his natural game. Showed a lot of courage, which is fantastic,” Rohit said.
Rohit, however, hoped that Pant will not be judged for an odd failure or a rash shot since he is an instinctive player. “He has been given that freedom as well, which is really important. Pant seems to have the backing of the captain and the coach and the management, which is extremely important for a batsman.
“I am sure he will flourish. There are times when he will play shots or he will get out but I don’t want anyone to criticize him for that. He is that kind of a player who can make a team look different within a span of an hour.
“He may give you those dismissals now and then but I don’t want anyone to make those opinions about the way he got out. He’s a kind of a guy who will play shots, who will get out but at the end of the day, we need such guys. We saw that in Australia as well and he has done it again today,” Rohit added.
