India vs England 2021: ‘He is such a difficult player to keep quiet’ – Joe Root hails ‘brave’ Rishabh Pant following crushing loss in final Test
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India completed a record 13th consecutive Test series at home as they sealed the fourth game in stunning fashion. And yet again it was Rishabh Pant’s swashbuckling hitting that changed the course of the game. England captain Joe Root was all praises for Pant who reverse swept veteran James Anderson. Root credited India for ‘out-skilling’ them yet again as heaped praises on Pant.
“It was disappointing, I will give credit to India as again they out-skilled us, they have definitely out-skilled us. They bowled really well and batted well too. We have to try and find out ways to be better in similar conditions in the future,” said Root during the virtual press conference.
“It was a frustrating way to finish the game. We were very much in the hunt and credit to Washington and Rishab for that outstanding partnership made it very difficult for us. The way he (Rishabh) bats makes it difficult for the bowlers to build pressure on him. It requires skills to pull off reverse sweep in a Test and it was very brave of him,” he added.
Root feels that the hosts were spot on in grabbing every opportunity that came their way in the game. India were in trouble having lost half the side for 100 runs. But it was Pant and Washinton Sundar’s gritty knocks which saw them through. The English captain felt that India’s experience in the subcontinental conditions worked greatly in their favor.
“I do think there were periods in the game where India managed to grab the opportunities they had and generally in low scoring Test matches that is a difference. Look at this game India was 100 out for five wickets and Rishabh walked out and made that opportunity count for some wonderful moments,” said Root.
“He (Rishabh) is such a difficult player to keep quiet. We came across some brilliant batting at that stage. So I do think that their experience in these conditions probably just outplayed us and was the difference and a big difference in fact in this series,” he added.
Joe Root mighty impressed by Ben Foakes and Jack Leach
Wicketkeeping in the subcontinent is deemed to be baptism by fire for keepers. And young gloveman Ben Foakes has passed the test with flying colors in his very first attempt. In his maiden India tour, Foakes displayed his exceptional skills behind the stumps on pitches where the ball was turning square. Captain Root is mighty impressed with the youngster as he hailed him as the best in the business.
“I think Ben’s keeping in this Test series has been excellent. I think he is arguably the best keeper in the world. His glovework is wonderful, he is a fine player. Having said that, Jos (Buttler) is a greatly experienced player he has done extremely well in the last year for us. It’s great to have a competition in place it makes you a better team,” said Root
Yet another first-timer who impressed in the tour was Jack Leach. Spearheading the spin department, Leach emerged as England’s best bowler in the series. In his maiden India tour, the left-arm spinner scalped 18 wickets across four games. Root is in awe of the way Leach rose to the occasion on his very first tour of the subcontinent.
“And talking about the spinners, I think Jack has been brilliant. He has certainly got better and better as the tour progressed and has been a useful and attacking option for us,” Root said. “We had eight to nine weeks of bowling spin and a lot of it and I think that’s a positive for us. Actually for guys in the reserves as well to get a chance to come out here and get the volume of work. In the long run, can pay huge dividends for England.“
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Anshuman Mahapatra
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