India vs England 2021: ‘He treated Anderson as if he was a spinner’ – Sunil Gavaskar mighty impressed with Rishabh Pant’s ‘incredible batting’


India vs England 2021: ‘He treated Anderson as if he was a spinner’ – Sunil Gavaskar mighty impressed with Rishabh Pant’s ‘incredible batting’

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

Early on the second day, England were in absolute control of the game. The visitors were spot on with the ball as they scalped three quick Indian wickets. As the hosts tried to rebuild their innings, England struck back to yet again put India under their thumb. But little did they know that a storm was brewing on the other end. Yet again, it was Rishabh Pant who changed the game for the hosts.

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Unlike his usual self, Pant was off to a slow start as England were impeccable with the ball. But once he got his eyes in, the young gloveman went all out on the opposition. Pant smashed 101 off 118 balls with 13 fours and two sixes putting India in the driver’s seat. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed by the way Pant build his innings.

He took the attack by the scruff of the neck but before that, he was actually sussing everything out, what the pitch is doing, what the bowlers are doing. He recognised the fact that England were handicapped by the fact that they didn’t have too much confidence in their off-spinner Dom Bess. They were restricted to only 3 bowlers plus Joe Root and therefore, he took his time.

Leach was giving him a bit of problem in the start, he had to be watchful and also with Anderson and Stokes. But once he got his bearings, once he saw there was nothing to worry about in the pitch he just got into his stride and played some extraordinary shots,” Gavaskar told India Today.

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“Good to see that Rishabh Pant didn’t miss out on a hundred this time,” Sunil Gavaskar

Rishabh Pant

After three attempts, Pant has finally scored his third Test century and his first in India. The highlight of his whirlwind innings was the way he took on veteran quick James Anderson. Pant reverse swept Anderson with the new ball as he stormed into the 90s. Gavaskar feels that Pant was dejected on missing out on a daddy hundred. Nonetheless, India’s x-factor has once again proved why the team’s faith is on him while a veteran of the game is benched.

And as he approached his hundred, and as the second new ball came he treated Anderson as if he was a spinner. A reverse-sweep against him, incredible batting. It was so good to see that he didn’t miss out on a hundred this time.

He was dejected after that because he was really looking to take the England attack to the cleaners, didn’t happen. But the partnership between him and Washington Sundar has taken India to safety,” Gavaskar said.

Pant’s 113-run partnership with Washington Sundar swayed the game in India’s favour as they finished day two on 294 for 7. Sundar was batting on 60 at stumps and Axar Patel was on 11 with India 89 ahead after being 121 for 5 at one stage.

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