Former India player Saba Karim has praised Rishabh Pant for scoring a stunning century in the second innings of the first Test against England. He added that the usually destructive batter played cautiously in the first session on Day 4 as well. However, Pant scored 118 runs off 140 deliveries as India posted 364 in their second innings in Leeds on Monday, June 23.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Saba Karim said, “The words have finished, but his batting is not stopping. This knock was extremely special because we saw different, different approaches. At the start, Rishabh felt that he could play freely even in this innings, but as soon as he realized that the wicket was slightly tough, as there was a little variable bounce and lateral movement, he held himself back.”

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“The words have finished, but his batting is not stopping. This knock was extremely special because we saw different, different approaches. At the start, Rishabh felt that he could play freely even in this innings, but as soon as he realized that the wicket was slightly tough, as there was a little variable bounce and lateral movement, he held himself back,” he said. “So he showed patience as well. Rishabh Pant’s strike rate was very low in the session before Lunch, unlike the Rishabh batting we have been seeing in Test matches for so many years.”

However, Saba Karim also added that Rishabh Pant was back to his best form once the conditions became more batting-friendly after Lunch as well.

“As soon as the session after Lunch started, Rishabh felt he had gotten set, the wicket was playing decently, and that he could show his batting. Then we got to see the typical Rishabh Pant. The shot selection was fantastic. He showed the right temperament, and figuring out what the team needed was necessary. The partnership both (Pant and Rahul) stitched together, the first aim of which was that they shouldn’t lose their wickets, that they could play out that session, and then the entire day would be theirs,” Saba Karim concluded.