The Indian wicket-keeper batsman, Rishabh Pant recalled him smashing 22 runs in the final over of Day 2 of the 3-day pink-ball warm-up match against Australia A. He explained that he was triggered when he was hit on the stomach in the first delivery bowled by Jack Wildermuth.
Rishabh Pant was batting on 81 when he was facing Wildermuth in the last of the second day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Recalling the dramatic over, saying he did not imagine himself getting to his hundred but his batting partner and fellow centurion Hanuma Vihari helped him go for the big shots. Pant had smashed 4 boundaries and a six after he was hit on the stomach in the first ball of the over.
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During a recent chat with bcci.tv, Rishabh Pant said, “As the innings went on, I reached closer to the hundred. From the last over (of the day), I needed 21 runs, I initially thought I wouldn’t get the hundred on Day 2. First ball, I got hit on my stomach, which made me a bit angry.”
He further added, “I thought I should try to hit one or two. I tried hitting a big one and Vihari came to me and told me ‘Hey, you can get the hundred today. You have to try. If it doesn’t happen, you can get it tomorrow morning’. I thought, I will try it and if it happens, well and good. “I got into a flow and went on hitting. I got a good hundred.”
It was a much-needed century for the youngster as he was struggling with his form in the Indian Premier League. Pant lost his place in the limited-overs team but with the hundred, he has come into consideration for a Test spot in Australia. Rishabh Pant enjoyed a lot of success in Australia during India’s 2018-19 tour as the wicketkeeper-batsman hit 350 runs at an average close to 60 in 4 matches.
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Talking about the same, Pant said, “This hundred has been a big confidence-booster for me. It’s been a month, I am in Australia but I didn’t get the chance to play in the first practice match because of a stiff neck.”
