IND vs SL: No One Judges The Game Better Than Rishabh Pant - Rohit Sharma Highlights Keeper’s Role In Leadership Group

Updated - 14 Mar 2022, 11:35 PM

Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant
Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant. (Photo: BCCI)

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Indian captain Rohit Sharma has given understanding into his on-field conversations with Rishabh Pant and the young wicket-keeper’s role in the team’s leadership group. This comes after India whitewashed Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Test series by winning the second and final Test in Bengaluru by 238 runs.

It was a clinical performance from both the Indian batters and bowlers as only Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne managed to so some resistance with a sublime century, his 14th in Test format. But Jasprit Bumrah added three more wickets in the second innings to his first-innings tally of 5/24 and ended up with 8/47 in the Test match.

R Ashwin picked 4 wickets as well, to finish with six for the match and went past Dale Steyn’s tally of 439 scalps, and now has 440 wickets.

Indian Team With Test series trophy after win over Sri Lanka at Bengaluru
Indian Team With Test series trophy after win over Sri Lanka at Bengaluru. (Photo: Twitter)

I Often Take Suggestions From Him, Keep Asking What’s Happening On His End: Rohit Sharma On Rishabh Pant’s Contributions To His Decision Making

Rishabh Pant was at his usual best both in front of the stumps and behind them as well, as he kept well on a turning track with uneven bounce. He scored the fastest Test fifty by an Indian in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test and also added a quick 39 in the first innings.

Rohit remarked that being the keeper, “no one can judge the game better” than Rishabh Pant when asked about Pant in the post-series press conference.

Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma. Photo- Twitter
Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma. Photo- Twitter

He said: “See, Rishabh Pant keeps wickets so no one can judge the game better than Rishabh. Keeping in itself is a challenge and then, at the same time, understanding the game from behind the wickets, how much the spinners’ deliveries are spinning, from where it’s spinning, whether the ball is swinging, reverse swinging or not when pacers are bowling – all this I get to know only from Rishabh. So obviously we’ll talk about these things on the field.”

Rohit Sharma continued his terrific outing as India all-format captain as he won 9 T20Is, 3 ODIs, and 2 Tests. Further highlighting Pant’s contributions, he said that he takes suggestions from him, asking him questions about the pitch and what the batter is doing.

Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma. Photo- Twitter
Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma. Photo- Twitter

Rohit added: “Then, see, he captains his franchise, did it last year so he has a good idea of the game. Obviously, it’s not a bad thing to take suggestions. I often take suggestions from him, keep asking what’s happening on his end, how and how much the ball is spinning, how long is the batsman’s stride, where’s he defending, whether he’s defending side-on or straight – all these things I get to know from him and we talk about these.”

Rohit believes that Rishabh Pant’s “understanding of the game” is rooted in his confidence and good form over the last few years. The Indian team management has earmarked Rishabh Pant as a future leader along with KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah for the national team.

Also Read: IND vs SL: I’ll Do Whatever The Team Management Want Me To Do – Rishabh Pant While Talking About Batting At Number Five 

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India Rishabh Pant Rohit Sharma