Rishabh Pant’s Match-Defining 66* Against Sri Lanka Praised by Pujara

Rishabh Pant delivered an extraordinary second-innings performance with a knock of 66 off just 69 balls during India’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on August 18. Batting under pressure, Pant struck four boundaries and two sixes to anchor India’s 193-run innings, which ultimately established a commanding 372-run lead after declaring at 514/3. His aggressive yet disciplined approach drew applause from former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, who emphasized the significance of the innings given Pant’s form challenges across formats.

India’s dominance stemmed from a attacking first-innings total of 462, fueled by Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 in the opener. Pant’s 44-ball cameo extended India’s lead to 178 runs. Pujara underscored Pant’s tactical maturity during the match, highlighting his improved shot selection against Sri Lanka’s varied attack.

Blockquote
“Although it might be 60-odd runs, I think it was an outstanding knock considering the situation. There was slight pressure on him. He is not performing in white-ball cricket. He isn’t part of India’s ODI and T20I squads. He is playing only the Test format at the moment. Even in the IPL, he hasn’t been performing that well. So your confidence as a batter goes down slightly. You feel a little pressure at that stage. Playing such an innings despite that pressure needs to be praised. That’s why Rishabh Pant should be in the Test squad,”

What did Pujara highlight about Pant’s batting approach in the second innings?

Pujara noted Pant’s refined technique, emphasizing his balance between aggression and caution. “The thing I liked the most was that he batted sensibly. He has to play attackingly, that’s his natural game, but along with that, he defended when required. He played shots when the fast bowlers came. He was using the sweep and reverse sweep against the off-spinner. Those are excellent shots. He was stepping out and trying to hit over mid-on and mid-off in the first innings. He didn’t try that today. He was playing pull shots and over mid-off against the fast bowlers. That’s his strength. So he batted to his strengths. He improved his shot selection,” Pujara explained.

How did Pant’s knock shape India’s position in the 1st Test at Galle?

Pant’s 66* became the cornerstone of India’s second-innings push, complementing his personal milestone of becoming cricket’s fourth player to score 100 sixes in Tests, achieved in record 4,918 balls. His partnership with Padikkal (44 off 75 deliveries) and KL Rahul (35 off 47) stabilized India’s innings. After dismissing Sri Lanka for 284, India entered the fourth day with a 193-run lead, extending to 372 after declaring. On the final day, Sri Lanka faltered to 84/4, needing 288 to win with six wickets in hand.

Get every cricket updates!Follow Us:

Source link