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Rishabh Pant praised former head coach Ravi Shastri for the support he provided during Shastri’s tenure. Pant highlighted that Shastri’s approach gave him the freedom to play his natural game and express himself on the field without restrictions. This environment of trust and encouragement allowed Pant to perform confidently and showcase his skills more effectively.
Return of Rishabh Pant 2.o
Pant is poised to make a significant comeback to Test cricket, marking his return after a severe car accident in 2022. He has been included in the squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh, which will be a pivotal moment in his career. Remarkably, Pant’s last Test appearance was also against Bangladesh, just days before the accident that had a profound impact on his life and cricketing career. This upcoming match not only symbolizes his return to form but also brings a full circle to his journey since that life-altering event.
The dynamic and aggressive Pant has already made a remarkable return to white-ball cricket, where he played a crucial role in India’s stunning victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup held in Barbados. His performance in the T20 format has reignited excitement and anticipation among fans and cricket experts alike.
Now, all eyes are on his much-anticipated return to Test cricket—a format in which he was a formidable presence before his career was interrupted by the car accident. The upcoming Test series offers a chance for Pant to reaffirm his prowess and impact in the longer format, where he had previously established himself as a key player.
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Pant heaps praises on Ravi Shastri
Pant, acknowledged former head coach Shastri for the supportive environment he created during his time with the team. Pant credited Shastri with giving him the freedom to play his natural game and express himself openly on the field. This freedom allowed Pant to perform confidently and showcase his skills without feeling constrained, which was instrumental in his development and success as a player.
“It was an amazing relationship. I had a great understanding with Ravi Shastri as he gave me the freedom I wanted. I don’t like it when someone tells me not to do a specific thing; instead, I prefer someone giving me a better option. I would rather switch to a better option than avoid anything,” Pant said on the YouTube channel of Tanmay Bhat.
He recalled a time when he struggled against off-spinners in general while playing attacking shots against them, and Shastri came out with a stunning advice to tackle them.
“There was a time when I was getting out to off-spinners while playing shots against them. Ravi bhai was thinking about what he should tell me, then he came to me and told me that we have to find a way to tackle off-spinner. He told me that he had found a way and said, “You should play reverse-sweep against an off-spinner and this was about Test cricket,” he added.
Also READ: Former India coach Ravi Shastri predicts the result of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Pant made a statement in Duleep Trophy
Pant displayed his ferocious batting performance in Duleep trophy match between India A and India B, where he brought up his fifty in just 34 balls. The left-handed batter moved from 43 to 49 with an overhead six off Kuldeep Yadav, and a ball later, he brought up the mini milestone with a single. He was the standout batter for India B in second innings with a 61 off 47 balls laced with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
