Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has compared Rishabh Pant’s batting style to former opener Virender Sehwag, saying both batsmen do not consider conditions to be a factor while batting. Inzamam said every time he sees Rishabh Pant, he feels like he watching Sehwag bat left-handed and reckoned pressure has no effect on Pant, a characteristic he spotted in Sehwag.
Rishabh Pant was the game-changer for India in Australia as he played blinders in Sydney and Brisbane. He was the main man in India’s historic win at the Gabba as they came back from 0-1 down to take the series 2-1. Now, after the India-England series, it’s clear Rishabh Pant is a highly effective batsman who makes a winning impact on a Test match.
“Rishabh Pant, absolutely brilliant. After a long time, I have seen a player on whom pressure seems to have no effect. Even if six wickets are down at 146, the way he starts his innings, no one does. He plays his strokes, irrespective of the pitch or how many runs the other team has scored. He is equally good against spinners and fast bowlers. I thoroughly enjoy watching him. It’s like watching Sehwag bat left-handed,” Inzamam said on his YouTube channel.
“I have played with Sehwag and he too didn’t bother about other factors. When he used to bat, it didn’t matter to him how the pitch behaved or what kind of bowling attack the opponent had. He just had to play his strokes, even if the fielders were on the boundary. After Sehwag, I have seen such a player, for whom nothing else matters,” Inzamam added.
“Ever since I’ve noted, it’s not that he’s only doing it in India, he did it in Australia too. He didn’t get to score centuries because he plays at his own pace. After a long time, I have seen such a player. India had Sachin, Dravid now they have Virat and Rohit. But the way he plays, it’s amazing. The kind of self-confidence he has is surprising. I haven’t come across a player like him in cricket,” Inzamam further said.
