Pant floors Sachin, MSD under pressure?

AT A TIME WHEN A FEW JUNIORS ARE PRESSING FOR A BERTH IN THE INDIA SQUAD, PANT’S INNINGS HAS COME AT THE RIGHT JUNCTURE

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly, three who know a thing or two about limited overs batting, are floored by Rishabh Pant’s innings.

At a time when several juniors are pressing their claim to win a berth in the Champions Trophy squad, Pant’s innings has come at the right juncture. Pant keeps wickets too for Delhi and although it’s impossible to think of an Indian team minus MS Dhoni, the selectors could think otherwise if they choose to back IPL performances.

Virat Kohli, whose intensity on the field pumps up young cricketers, won’t be averse to giving Rishabh Pant a chance but the India captain has tremendous respect for the experienced Dhoni, whose IPL form for Rising Pune Supergiant has run a bit hot and cold.

Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai Indians mentor, praised Pant. “One of the best innings I have seen in IPL and that includes all 10 season’s,” tweeted Tendulkar with a TV grab of Pant’s 97.

Sourav Ganguly was floored too. “Rishabh pant,Sanju Samson ...tonite wow..keep an eye on them teams ...they are special,” Ganguly tweeted.

Pant came to the wicket with reckless abandon and cleared the ropes four times inside five overs, Basil Thampi (1-40) and Pradeep Sangwan (1-43) were the first to be picked off.

At the other end, Sanju Samson, another young man who must have caught the imagination of the national selectors, was playing his part in a majestic partnership, twice sending Ankit Soni for six.

MAIN ATTRACTION

Pant was the main attraction, though, and he picked up 23 runs off a luckless James Faulkner (0-35) in the 11th over with his sublime ball striking and excellent foot work helping him to three more sixes.

Virender Sehwag, who is mentoring Kings XI this season, was impressed too. “Love batsman with tremendous belief in themselves which is backed by a special ability for ball hitting. Extra Special today frm Rishabh Pant,” Sehwag tweeted.

Pant’s innings has partially lifted the gloom in the Daredevils camp. Cricket’s history is replete with miracle turnarounds and if Daredevils make the last four, then Pant and Samson will get most of the credit. And don’t forget his dad’s blessings. Rishabh Pant lost his 53-year-old father on April 5, the day IPL 2017 started in Hyderabad.

Pant returned to IPL action within two days of completing the last rites. The powerful lefthander, who is charming his way with his hitting skills, is now grabbing the headlines for all the happy reasons.

Dad Rajendra must surely be loving it up there.