Ahmedabad: Former Indian batsman Sanjay Bangar has gone gaga over Rishabh Pant’s audacity to reverse-sweep yet another premier England fast bowler. Pant has gained quite a reputation for his big-hitting exploits in the recent Test series against England.
The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman gave a string of impressive performances since his return to the side in the second Test in Australia. In the first T20I against England in Ahmedabad Pant failed to produce an impressive show but his river-sweep against speedster Jofra Archer left everyone shocked.
Archer bowled a quick ball at Pant’s leg and the Indian batsman just ramped it over which sailed over the third man for a six. It was a huge risky shot from Pant given Archer’s speed, but it came off and left fans and other players stunned. Even Archer couldn’t stop appreciating the youngster.
Former India batting coach Bangar said that he was left astonished with the shot. “To play a shot like that against a bowler who is bowling at 140-150 kph and that too when Jofra Archer followed him after seeing him getting into a position for a shot like that, and despite that he got bat to ball is praiseworthy. I was left astonished with his talent, ability, and where the skill level has gone,” Bangar said.
Pant has been in the remarkable form off late as he played a crucial knock in the fourth and final Test against England which also saw him reverse-sweeping James Anderson for a four and that too when England had just taken the second new ball. Calling Pant a special player Bangar further stated that he should be backed and encouraged to play his natural game even if he gets out while executing ‘such shots’.
“He is a special player, he is a match-winner and stroke-maker. And sometimes he will get out playing such shots. So, it will be necessary that he is encouraged to play his natural game and he will then be able to win the maximum matches for the team, the way he did in Australia,” Bangar said.
“He did not get much batting before the Australia tour, he did a lot of hard work. He is playing in the same fashion, he is a game-changer who wins matches for his team,” Bangar concluded.
