IND vs PAK: "If That Doesn't Gets Americans Into Cricket, Nothing Will"- Wasim Jaffer roasts ICC name dropping Rishabh Pant

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been ruling the headlines and winning hearts, and he deserves every bit of it after he made a miraculous comeback in the national colors after his career-threatening car accident in December 2022.

After impressing one and all with his explosive batting and impressive fielding in the IPL 2024, Pant made a memorable comeback for Team India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The left-handed batter had smashed a fiery fifty in the warm-up game against Bangladesh and then stole the show with his fantastic performance in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland on Wednesday, June 5.

Rishabh Pant shines bright in IND vs IRE T20 World Cup 2024 clash

Playing his first match for the Indian cricket team after a long break, Pant wowed the crowd at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York with his spectacular wicketkeeping and batting against Ireland on Wednesday.

In the first inning, Pant was sharp behind the stumps, as he plucked two catches and was involved in running out Gerath Delany (26). Then, the star player played an unbeaten knock of 36 off 26 balls and studded three fours and two sixes to help Team India chase down the 97-run target inside 13 overs against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

The 26-year-old batter also added 54 runs with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (52) to help the Men in Blue kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a commanding eight-wicket win over Ireland with 46 balls to spare in New York. He finished the game for India with a bold reverse scoop shot and won applause from the cricket fraternity across the globe.

Wasim Jaffer in awe of Rishabh Pant's genius reverse scoop shot against Barry McCarthy

Meanwhile, after the IND vs IRE clash in New York, former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer expressed his thrill after Pant sealed the game for the Men in Blue with an incredible reverse scoop against Ireland pacer Barry McCarthy in New York. This signature shot came in the 13th over, facing McCarthy, when Pant expertly sent the ball soaring over the wicketkeeper’s head.

McCarthy delivered a good-length ball angling across the left-handed batter and could hardly have expected it would end up several rows back in the stands, as it headed in the exact opposite direction of the sight screen. The look of amazement on McCarthy’s face was just indescribable.

Watch Rishabh Pant's reverse scoop shot -

Match winning six 🤟. Rishabh Pant's trademark reverse scooping a fast bowler for a six . #INDvsIRE | #T20IWorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/m3teI6BUOQ

— ~ NS ~ (@NxS_45) June 5, 2024

However, this wasn’t the first time Pant had executed this beauty, as England’s James Anderson and Jofra Archer had already become victims of the Indian star. Well, Jaffer, praising Pant, said that if the Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s genius reverse scoop shot could not get the American into cricket, then nobody could.

The cricket expert also suggested that someone should play the clip of that reverse lap-winning six by Pant in Times Square to attract Americans into the game of cricket, and if it doesn't get Americans into cricket, then nothing will.

Wasim Jaffer posted on X: “Take a clip of that reverse lap winning six by @RishabhPant17 and play it in the Times Square. If that doesn't get Americans into cricket, nothing will. #INDvIRE #T20WorldCup.”

Take a clip of that reverse lap winning six by @RishabhPant17 and play it in the Times Square. If that doesn't get Americans into cricket, nothing will. #INDvIRE #T20WorldCup

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 5, 2024