ENG vs IND: Told Rishabh Pant Last Year 'I Am Getting Bored Of Seeing You Throwing It Away' - Ravi Shastri
Published - 02 Jul 2022, 01:22 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
Former Indian player Ravi Shastri recalled his conversation with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant during India’s home Test series against England last year in the February-March period. India crushed England’s hopes to qualify for the World Test Championship final 2019-21 with a 3-1 series defeat especially after going down in the first game in Chennai.
A lot of things were said about India’s pitches favouring the spin bowlers as Test matches were finished inside two-three days. Pant brought up his maiden Test hundred in the final Test as he unleashed some unorthodox shots against the likes of James Anderson and Jofra Archer in the course of his 101, including 13 fours and two sixes.
Ravi Shastri recalls chat with Rishabh Pant during India-England 2021 Test series
Ahead of that Ahmedabad Test, Pant had scored a couple of fifties and also missed out on a hundred in the first Test in Chennai. Shastri, who was India’s head coach during that Test series, said he asked Pant to change his batting style and go against the opposition with an attacking mindset.
“Last year I was talking to Pant and I told him I am getting bored of seeing you throwing it away in the same fashion every time. Aren’t you bored as well? So why don’t you try something different, something more outrageous… like a reverse sweep, maybe? And I saw his eyes light up. It’s very important to back a player’s ability,” Shastri said during commentary on Sky Sports on Day 1 of England vs India 5th Test.
“He reverse swept Jack Leach a couple of times. In the next Test, he did that against Anderson. Took a step ahead by reverse sweeping Jofra Archer, one of their fastest bowlers in the limited-overs series,” Shastri added.
Rishabh Pant knew exactly what he was doing: Ravi Shastri
Pant once again displayed his ferocious batting show on the first day of the rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Indian gloveman scored 146 in 111 deliveries, with the help of 20 boundaries and four sixes, to bail the visitors out from slumping in the first innings. Pant was involved in a crucial stand of 222 runs with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (83 not out) for the sixth wicket.
“He doesn’t waste time. What I liked about him today was the way he managed his innings. He wasn’t prepared to take those high-risk shots early on. Even when he came down the track to Anderson, it was measured. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he’s that kind of player. He puts the pressure back on the opposition straight away,” Shastri said.
India finished the first day at 338/7 with Jadeja and Mohammed Shami batting for them. England pacer James Anderson (3//52) was the architect behind the tourists’ early batting collapse in the first two sessions. Anderson was supported by the rookie Matthew Potts (2/85).
