IND vs SA: This Could Be A Career-defining Innings For Him – Sanjay Bangar On Rishabh Pant's 85 Runs Knock In The 2nd ODI

Former India batsman and batting coach Sanjay Bangar has said that the 85-run knock by Rishabh Pant in the second ODI against South Africa on Friday, January 21, at Boland Park, Paarl, could be a career-defining knock for the wicketkeeper-batsman in the ODI format.

Rishabh Pant came out to bat in a difficult situation against South Africa in the second ODI and he had an amazing 115 runs partnership with captain KL Rahul. Pant, before getting dismissed, scored 85 runs off 71 balls including 10 fours and 2 sixes.

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Meanwhile, Bangar was impressed with Pant’s innings and he said that the young wicketkeeper-batsman was toying with the field in Tabraiz Shamsi’s overs.

“I was very impressed. This could be a career-defining innings for him. As a player, you have got to play every format accordingly,” Bangar told Star Sports on Friday.

“If you see his today’s innings, he was run-a-ball until his 30th delivery and then he accelerated so quickly. Along with the way he paced his innings, the way he targetted the areas was impressive. At one point, it seemed he was toying with the field especially when Shamsi was bowling. There was a lot of thought in that innings,” he added.

Bangar added that Pant could have taken more time and batted for longer after KL Rahul got out.

“What he would have loved to do is when KL Rahul got out, he could have taken that much longer. But it was an impressive innings. He would have unlocked something special as far as understanding his ODI game is concerned,” he added.

Rishabh Pant was exceptional – Dale Steyn

Legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn heaped praise on Pant and said that he forced Proteas captain Temba Bavuma to make a play.

“Pant was exceptional. He came out and took the game to the Proteas. He really did play the normal Pant that we know he is and the aggressive kind of play and forced Temba to make a play. He was really incredible today,” Steyn said.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Watch – Rishabh Pant Falls 15 Runs Short Of Century, Gets Dismissed By Tabraiz Shamsi In The 2nd ODI

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