TV
Team India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has stunned several fans and many experts with his aggressive and fearless batting.
Following a rough patch in the Indian Premier League 2025, Pant returned to form in the first Test against England at Leeds by scoring two blistering centuries in both the innings of the match.
Pant smashed 134 off 178 balls in the first innings, hitting 12 fours and six sixes, and followed it up with a counterattacking 118 off 140 deliveries in the second innings, studded with 15 fours and three sixes. In the process, Pant became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score centuries in both innings of a match. However, India lost the match against the host despite Pant's heroics.
In response, former South Africa legend AB de Villiers hailed Pant for his aggressive style. However, he pointed out the high-risk nature of his approach.
Must Read: ECB and BCCI join hands to thwart global T20 league backed by Saudi Arabia!
"Pant plays with extreme risk. It's sometimes going to frustrate the living daylights out of you. I can count 20 occasions where he could have gotten out for under 30 in both innings. But he didn't - and that's the most important thing. He is a player that takes it to the opposition, and 99 out of 100 times, those are your successful sportspeople," said De Villiers during a recent interaction.
"I was on the couch, going, 'Rishabh, what are you doing? It's not the time and place for this.' But look at the results. That's all that matters. It's a huge shame they couldn't cross the line because he deserved to be the Man of the Match. Lots of questions all of a sudden. I know there are a lot of media people around, writing the big headlines - 'we need change'. I don't think it's time to panic yet. It is a five-Test match series," he added.
