After raising bar, Rishabh Pant strives to keep up
NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s performance in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season had created a buzz in Indian cricket.
In eight games, Pant blasted 972 runs at an average of 81 with four centuries, including a triple ton. He also scored the fastest Ranji Trophy century off just 48 balls against Jharkhand.
The benchmark he had set resulted in further gains. A good run for Delhi Daredevils in the 2017 Indian Premier League, followed by his India debut against West Indies heralded good times. However, 2017-18 has been a challenge for Pant.
In this Ranji season, Pant has has scored 261 runs in five games at an average of 43.
These are not bad numbers, but having already raised expectations, the season so far has been modest.
“Actually, an average of 43 is not bad. I am trying to catch up with the numbers that I had set in 2016-17. Once you raise the bar, you have to try and maintain it. It is part and parcel of the game,” Pant told Hindustan Times as he was about to leave for the semi-final between Delhi and Bengal in Pune.
UNEXPECTED
Delhi have reached the Ranji Trophy semi-final for the first time since 2010. Unlike previous teams, this side have overcome the curse of a last-moment upset. “In previous seasons, something has happened in the last couple of games which eliminated us. Some teams managed to secure outright wins which put us out of the reckoning,” Pant said. In the 2016-17 season, Delhi lost to Saurashtra by four runs and missed out on a knock-out spot by a point.
In 2015-16, Delhi were stunned by Assam and it cost them a chance in the last four.
Delhi’s good run has been due to both bowlers and batsmen. Gautam Gambhir and Dhruv Shorey are averaging in the high 50s while Nitish Rana, Himmat Singh and Kunal Chandela are in the high 60s and 70s respectively. The bowling has been led by leftarm orthodox bowler Vikas Sharma with 31 wickets, Manan Sharma (23), Navdeep Saini (22) and skipper Ishant Sharma (20).
Pant believes this has played a role in Delhi’s march. “Everyone in the team is contributing. Gambhir continues to be our pillar,” he said.