Pant made a vital 42 off 31 balls in Sunday’s low-scoring thriller at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, despite being dropped four times and not getting his timing right in the early stages of his knock.Pant took three excellent catches with the keeping gloves to win the title of finest Indian fielder during the match against Pakistan.
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“All I say for Rishabh. But first of all, brilliant performance and great character shown by guys. But I had tears in my eyes when I heard about his accident. When I saw him in hospital, it was even worse. Then for him to come back from there and be back in the A-zone playing one of the biggest games of all time, India vs Pakistan, is heartwarming,” said Shastri in a video posted on bcci.tv.
Further lauding Pant’s wicketkeeping skills in the match against Pakistan, Shastri remarked, “Batting, everybody knew. What you’re capable of, the X-factor you have. But your wicketkeeping and the range of movement that you have so quickly got back in after the operation, is a tribute for how much you worked hard.
“Not just for yourself, it’s an inspiration to millions around the globe that from adversity, from the jaws of death, you can snatch a win as well. So well done, fantastic and keep up the good work and keep going.”
On a sluggish outfield, fielding coach T Dilip praised the Indian players for their focused and incisive on-field efforts. “One thing which stood out was sheer commitment towards excellence in fielding, which led to greatness today. In high pressure situations, being proactive is extremely important and this game was great example.
“Like fielders going to hotspots, when the throw was thrown, the backing up was there and everyone looked at each other. It looked like everyone was working as one unit and it made for an outstanding effort. This level of co-ordination between you guys makes us effective and it sets us apart from any other team.”
Pakistan were held to 113-7 in 20 overs after India were bowled out for 119 in 19 overs, giving the Rohit Sharma-led team their second victory of the tournament. On Wednesday, India will take against co-hosts USA in New York.
“It was a typical India-Pakistan game, where the pendulum swung from one side to the other. It’s a game that put everyone on the edge, not just in the dugout or in the dressing room. In the end it is the team that seizes the big moment and holds their nerves, they (India) came out on top,” concluded Shastri.
(With IANS inputs)
