Rishabh Pant labelled the lone genius in the Indian team before Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Indian batters have been going through tough times recently. The famed batting line-up was all over the place against New Zealand recently as they failed miserably in all three Tests of the series.

The Men in Blue are being severely criticized for this shocking loss at home. However, there was one positive sign among all the negative things and it was Rishabh Pant's form. Pant continued his good run in Tests with another brilliant performance in Mumbai.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Rishabh Pant for his performance and called him a 'genius'. Pant scored two fifties in the Mumbai Test on a pitch offering plenty of turn and bounce for the spinners. The left-handed batter seemed unfazed by the wickets falling at the other end.

Also read: Virat Kohli insulted by Marnus Labuschagne ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Sanjay Manjrekar hails Rishabh Pant for his brilliant batting display in Mumbai

While speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar praised Rishabh Pant's spectacular batting effort in Mumbai. Manjrekar claimed that Pant has played numerous brilliant knocks during his career so far and was close to playing another great innings in Mumbai had he taken India to victory.

"Today, you know the word genius came to my mind purely because even on this pitch, with the kind of pressure on him, and it's not the first time that he has done this. He seems to be doing this on a regular basis," Manjrekar stated.

"In a very short career, if he would have won the game for India, it would have been another great Indian innings and that would have been third or fourth in his short career," he added.

'The word genius comes to mind'

When Rishabh Pant nearly pulled it off in Mumbai#INDvNZ #MatchDay pic.twitter.com/O5ZVoGH0qZ

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 5, 2024

Rishabh Pant scored 60 off 59 balls in the first innings of the Mumbai Test and struck 8 fours and 2 sixes during his knock. He followed it up with another magnificent innings of 64 off 57 balls in the second innings. Pant struck 9 fours and 1 six during this knock.

Rishabh Pant doesn't respect his defence: Sanjay Manjrekar

Further, Sanjay Manjrekar spoke about Rishabh Pant's defence which has not been in strength. He adds that Pant does not play a convincing defensive shot and was dismissed while trying to defend the ball in both innings at Mumbai.

"But yes, to score runs so quickly at that kind of strike rate and still playing one way looking to attack. And again, when he defends it as a very last resort, he seems to not give it the kind of respect that it deserves," Manjrekar opined.

As long as Pant was at the crease, New Zealand were under the pump of getting him dismissed. Manjrekar also mentioned that New Zealand players were desperate for Pant;s wicket. He hailed Rishabh Pant's amazing temperament and claimed that he will be at his best when his team needs him.

" It's not just about the skills" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Rishabh Pant

Both innings he got out trying to play a defensive shot but while he was out there, you could see the New Zealand players getting desperate to go for a review that was wasn't. And then they asked for a review that was out," the former India batter said.

"So, Rishabh Pant is that kind of a player. It's not just about the skills that he has. He has just got this amazing temperament where if there is a match that rests on his shoulders, you just see the best of him," the cricketer-turned-commentator said.

Rishabh Pant emerged as the highest run-scorer of the series with 261 runs in 3 Tests at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 89.38. He struck three half-centuries during this series with two of them coming in the final Test.