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Rishabh Pant’s seventh Test hundred has once again reinforced the age-old adage: form is temporary, but class is permanent. His childhood coach, Devender Sharma, put it aptly — a poor series doesn’t make a poor player. “Being out of form is natural, but such players must be handled with care,” Devender told CricBlogger just hours after his ward made yet another impactful contribution with the bat for India against England at Leeds.
Pant’s knock has filled Devender with so much confidence that he now wants to see his protégé score over 500 runs in the series. “And why not?” he said, adding, “He has worked hard for this hundred, and there can’t be any looking back from here.”
And speaking of hard work, this is the same Pant who once preferred lofted shots over grounded drives. “But now, he has changed so much. He has developed a solid defence and focuses on driving the ball along the ground in Test cricket. He has curbed his tendency to play lofted shots, though every now and then, his natural flair shines through with those unconventional strokes. He’s a much more mature player now,” Devender observed.
There was also a time when Pant struggled to transfer his body weight while batting — but he has worked on that and learnt it all. The opening Test match was yet another reminder that he is among the best in the business. IPL performances pale in comparison when a player like Pant kicks off a series with a commanding hundred, don’t they?
The mark of a great player is in his ability to come back. When everyone has written you off, a successful comeback is the best revenge to silence the critics.
India’s strength lies in players of this class. Lets hope Pant continues to shine for India.