Team India bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey has praised Rishabh Pant after scoring a century in the second innings of the Cape Town Test. He stated that Pant got runs when the team needed them most as well. Notably, Pant scored an unbeaten 100 from 139 balls. With this, he registered his fourth century in Tests. Meanwhile, his hundred helped India set a target of 212 for South Africa as well.
Reflecting on Pant’s innings, Paras Mhambrey has said that the youngster got runs at a crucial stage, which is more important. “It was a fabulous innings that really got us back in the game. From a personal perspective there is pressure on him (Pant), obviously in a couple of innings didn’t get runs but getting runs at a crucial stage for the team, that is important,” Mhambrey said after the end of third day’s play. “And it really set the game (up) nicely for us and I think really happy with the way he played. It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on but (he) showed a lot of character out there, really pleased.”
However, Team India had a poor start to the third day’s play in Cape Town when they lost both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane quickly in the first session. However, Rishabh Pant along with Virat Kohli steadied the ship and stitched 94 runs as well.
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“At that stage, you wanted a partnership ideally and you have someone like Virat (Kohli) at the other end, you wanted to stitch a nice partnership, which was going on. At that stage, as a batsman, you will (have to) sometimes take a back seat as well and assess the conditions and say what is the right thing at that stage. In terms of going ahead for the game and in that sense he (Pant) batted very well.” he again explained.
“Once you lost Virat, he had to take that leading role and which he did and then stitched partnership with the tail-enders as well. He batted very sensibly, given us a great opportunity to win a test from here.” Mhambrey was hopeful that conditions would allow his pacers a fair chance for fight and all they need is to just hit the right lengths,” Mhambrey further added.
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However, the coach has opined that the surface was a challenging one in Cape Town. Moreover, India’s batting woes still continued as they struggled to score and failed overall.
“It is not an easy wicket, I think there is a little awkward bounce on a patch, which has been created, but it is not going to be an easy wicket. We still know that even today in the later stages, a couple of balls did kick up, hit the glove, hit the chest. Keep it simple, hit the right areas and be patient about it,” Mhambrey concluded.
