ENG vs IND: What Matters Is The Character Shown By Them - Zaheer Khan On Rishabh Pant-Hardik Pandya

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan said that Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya set the perfect example for the team by showing their character while staring down the barrel in the third ODI against England.

Pant and Hardik saved India from defeat by stitching a 133-run partnership for the fifth wicket. They took the team from 72/4 to the brink of victory before Pant finished the matters in style.

“That partnership has been a match-winning partnership. You see, on the whole, the game has been superb. It was an even contest between the bat and ball. The way England started, there was a lot of pressure. When you have such a big partnership, you do have these kinds of moments (faults).”

“These are the things that are going to happen but what matters is the character shown by them (Pant and Pandya). To absorb pressure and to build a partnership and one of them going on to finish the game, that’s the example you would like to give to anyone who is in the lineup,” Zaheer told Cricbuzz.

“This innings is certainly going to give him that boost” – Zaheer Khan on Pant

Pant recorded his maiden ODI century in the process, scoring 16 fours and 2 sixes. He smashed David Willey for five boundaries in the 41st over before ending the game in style with a reverse sweep off Joe Root.

“What he is basically building a reputation of is that ‘when I am in, I am going to finish the game for you’. So that is the kind of character that he has shown not just in white-ball cricket but also in test matches regularly.”

“And this was his maiden century in ODIs, so this innings is certainly going to give him that boost to go on to make it a habit to get these kinds of runs. And if that happens, then the middle order firepower is going to get even more strengthened,” he also mentioned.

Also Read – Watch – Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli Lead The Celebrations After Hard-Earned ODI Series Win Over England