Ahead of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England white-ball captain Harry Brook praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as one of the world’s top batters. When Brook hammered 99 in the first innings and Pant produced twin hundreds in the first Test of the five-match series, both batsmen were at the top of their game.
Brook acknowledged that when Pant was on the pitch, the crowd would switch on the TV and commended the left-hander for his knocks in Leeds. Although Pant’s white-ball career has been inconsistent, he is dominating in the longest format. Since returning from a protracted injury hiatus, he has struck three hundreds and broken MS Dhoni’s records.
He is a fantastic player. It was fun to watch him bat. Everybody switches on the TV when he bats because he is a sight to behold.
He is among the world’s top batters, in my opinion,” Brook told The Hindu.
Although many have taken issue with Pant’s unconventional shots in Test cricket, his strategy solidified his status as the Indian Test team’s main wicketkeeper. He demonstrated incredible talent with his two hundreds (134 and 118), which put tremendous pressure on the England players back home. As England knocked down a target of 371 runs in the fourth innings, giving them a series advantage, Pant’s hundreds went in vain.
In the ICC Test batting rankings, the 27-year-old has risen one spot to seventh thanks to his recent performances. He is currently ranked second among Indian batters, trailing only fourth-place finisher Yashasvi Jaiswal.
During the first Test, Pant performed two incredible innings and claimed 182.4 wickets, which must have worn him out both mentally and physically. He should have enough time to recuperate during the one-week break before the second Test, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, at Birmingham’s storied Edgbaston.
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