It is very important to disturb the bowler: Rishabh Pant provides glimpse in his method to madness vs England
India Today
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant saved the day alongside Ravindra Jadeja by putting up a 22-run stand for the sixth wicket against England on day 1 of the fifth Test match.
India were rescued by a stunning 222-run partnership from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja for the sixth wicket on day one of the fifth Test match between India and England. Playing the role of an aggressor, Pant, the dominant player in that partnership ripped into the England pace attack stepping out of the crease and hitting them through his arc. This ended England in changing his strategy and putting in Jack Leach,, who got hammered by the youngster, leaking close to eight runs per over.
India recovered after their early setback of 98/5 in the first 30 overs and went on to put a mammoth 338/7 at the end of day’s play where 73 overs were bowled. Pant, who got out for 146 off 111 was the entertainer of the day, taking on the bowling attack, at a point, when England were all over India at Edgbaston.
Speaking after the game, Pant said that the idea was to disturb the rhythm of the English pacers so that they could not bowl at the same spot throughout the day.
“In a condition like England, if you know that the bowler is bowling at the same spot and troubling the batsman, I feel that it is very important to disturb him,” Pant spoke about attacking James Anderson.
“What I try out there is not to play the same type of cricket, sometimes stepping out of the crease and sometimes going to my backfoot. I keep on using the crease well, I try to give a little effort from my side and things happen,” he further added on his method.
Asked about the unconventionality of his shots, Pant said that the idea was to give his full commitment to the shot.
“As a player I look to give my 100 percent. Yes, I might play some different shots at some time but I try to play my percentage so I feel if it is there for me to hit the ball or try a different shot I tend to hit it,” he said.
