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NEW DELHI: He came down the track first ball in his knock at Adelaide to smash Scott Boland for a four. Not too long after that, he went down on his knee and almost fell, but not before executing an adventurous scoop to fine-leg for a four. And had the courage to repeat the same shot over for another boundary. That’s Rishabh Pant and his fearless character, which is what the Indian batters need to show in Gabba, feels former chief selector and India spinner Sunil Joshi.
In less than 24 hours, Pant will breathe the familiar Brisbane air from three seasons ago, when his epic 89 not out led India’s historic win — something no other Test team could do for more than three decades; that’s beating Australia at the Gabba.
While Pant’s innovative shot-making is not a secret, it was still surprising to see someone batting in a manner that Test cricket is not accustomed to, and at a time when India needed a big partnership to repair the innings. But that’s how Virender Sehwag played, less adventurous than Pant but against the new ball as an opener, and nobody complained because he won India matches on his own.
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Joshi believes Pant is nothing less and has everything that’s required to pull off another heist at the Gabba in five days’ time.
Joshi, who headed the BCCI selection panel that picked the squad for India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia, told Timesofindia.com that while Pant would know what’s required of him, he should be allowed to express himself and shift the pressure back on the opposition bowlers.
His attempts to do that against the pink balli in Adelaide were entertaining but not fruitful, producing innings of 21 and 28 only. Pant’s best knock in the series so far has been the 37 he scored in the first innings at Perth.
“I am sure Pant also realises (that he has to deliver runs), and we have seen him winning a Test match for India at the Gabba last time (2021),” said Joshi. “I am not going to take anything away from Rishabh. He is a champion. That’s his way of expressing. So we need to back him and say ‘Boss, you are the king’.”
The Gabba track for the coming Test, starting on Saturday, could be a lot different from the one that India played on post Christmas in 2021. According to the Gabba pitch curator, playing at the venue before Christmas can be a lot different than playing on it in January because the track is a lot fresher and hasn’t gone through any wear and tear.
But Joshi is confident of another big Pant knock around the corner, may be at the Gabba again.
“Whether it’s a T20, ODI or a Test match, he remains an aggressive and positive player. He wants to put the ball back in the bowler’s court, which is fair enough. He will win matches for us — we have seen that; and the Gabba for him is a match-winning venue. We are all looking forward to an amazing inning from Rishabh,” Joshi concluded.
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