I'm Happy If The Crowd Is Entertained By My Brand Of Cricket: Rishabh Pant

India’s keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s magnificent hundred highlighted India’s dominant day as they took control of the fourth and final Test against England in Ahmedabad. Rishabh Pant rescued the Indian team from a position of peril to the spot from where they could dictate the terms in the rest of the match. The 23-year old highlighted that the team’s plan was to build significant partnerships.

England started the day brightly as their toil earned rewards in the form of Cheteshwar Pujara’s and Virat Kohli’s wickets. Jack Leach dismissed Pujara, who survived for 66 balls, while Stokes provided the tourists with the massive breakthrough of Virat Kohli, who departed for an eight-ball duck. Ajinkya Rahane also perished after playing a brief attacking inning of 27, falling to James Anderson before lunch.

Rishabh Pant joined Rohit Sharma and shared a crucial partnership of 41 before England bounced back by removing the latter and Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite India walking to tea with 153-6, Rishabh Pant did not get sucked into the pressure and added 113 with Washington Sundar. Pant reached his hundred with a six off Joe Root; however, James Anderson removed him soon after that. But India wrested control of the match as they finished day two, 89 runs ahead alongside Washington Sundar, unbeaten at 60.

The team plan was to get to 206 and then get as much of a lead as we can: Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant revealed that the team’s strategy was to build partnerships. The left-hander decided to play his shots after assessing the pitch, pointing out that sometimes batsmen have to respect the bowlers and if there’s a good ball on offer, they have to satisfy themselves with a single. Pant further stated that the team wanted to reach 206 and get as much lead they could. He disclosed that everything went according to the plan and said about the reverse sweep that when things are going your way, batsmen have the license go for all kinds of shots. When asked whether he likes to entertain the crowd, Rishabh Pant claimed that he prefers to play his brand of cricket and if the public gets amused, he is glad.

“The team plan was to build a partnership, that was the only thing in my mind. I thought after assessing the pitch I would play my shots. Sometimes you have to respect the bowler, and the ball, get a bad ball, look for a single. I just see the ball and react to it, that’s the USP of my cricket. The team plan was to get to 206 and then get as much of a lead as we can as a batting unit. Everything went to the team plan. The reverse-sweep, you have to premeditate it, but when things are going your way… most of the time I get the licence to go for my shots, after I’ve assessed the game. And if the crowd are entertained by that, I’m happy,” Pant told during the post-day presentation.

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