India cricket team vice captain Rishabh Pant’s childhood coach has heaped praise on the star for working on his red-ball technique. The southpaw scored a scintillating hundred on Day 2 of ENG vs IND 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds. With his 134-run knock, Pant overtook MS Dhoni to become the most successful Indian keeper-batter in SENA countries.
How Pant improved his Test technique
As per news agency PTI, Pant’s childhood coach Devender Sharma revealed that the southpaw had worked on his defence and curbed his stroke play after a string of failures in Australia. Hailing him as a match winner, Sharma said that he had had a conversation with the Indian vice-captain before the England tour and that they had discussed his defence.
“After he failed in Australia, he made a lot of changes to his defensive techniques and curbed his stroke play, which you also saw in the match. Pant is a match-winner,” Sharma said.
Pant’s coach further pointed out that this wasn’t the first time that the southpaw had scored a hundred in England. He pointed out that the star had ample time to bat which worked in his favour in England.
“He scored a hundred last time in England as well. He has a lot of time when he bats, which is a factor that makes him successful in England. Playing in the second line gives him a significant advantage,” he asserted.
Pant’s knock was studded with 12 fours and 6 sixes. Apart from becoming the most-successful Indian keeper-batter, the southpaw also went past Dhoni to become the Indian keeper with most centuries in England. A calm and composed Pant mixed up his shots really well, finding a balance between playing defensive shots and going on the offensive.
“I feel that Rishabh is a player who can play all three formats. He isn’t in the team right now, but I believe he will come back after his IPL failure. If you’re a good player, you’ll perform,” Sharma said.
