via Imago
Rishabh Pant
via Imago
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is 20 years old. Yet he is currently the orange cap holder, being the only centurion of the tournament alongside Chris Gayle and Shane Watson. He’s single handedly taken responsibility of guiding Delhi to a possible playoffs after the most of the other batsmen in the Delhi dugout have disappointed the team. In the 128* he scored, he hit 15 fours and 7 sixes, scoring the total in just 63 balls.
His score stands as the highest score for the this year’s IPL. 128 is also the highest individual score by an Indian batsman. So much so was the might of his innings that he hit the death over specialist Bhuvaneshwar Kumar for 26 runs in the last 5 balls.
An innings like this deserves every bit of recognition. No matter what the result might be, but this innings by Rishabh Pant will be remembered for years to come. This is how people on Twitter decided to showcase their appreciation for the Delhi batsman:
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What an amazing innings from Rishabh Pant. Incredible talent and skill!
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) May 10, 2018
More and more I am convinced there is something special about Rishabh Pant.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 10, 2018
Really special innings from Rishabh. Those were not bad balls from Bhuvi in the last over barring the last full toss, but Rishabh Pant is really special and I hope he is nurtured well. #DDvSRH
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 10, 2018
I thought Rishabh Pant twirled his cricket bat around like it was a table-tennis racquet.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 10, 2018
Rishabh Pant has got to be one of the most fearless and powerful young batsmen I have ever come across. First T20 ?. Congratulations.????
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 10, 2018
One handed sixes and hitting even good balls out of the park. This was as good an innings you will ever see in a T-20 match against the best bowling line up in the IPL, absolutely clean striking. Take a bow, Rishabh Pant #DDvSRH
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 10, 2018
Innings of this year's #IPL. #RishabhPant. #Special.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 10, 2018
The best bowling attack PANT-Ing for breath. This is a bloody special knock from Rishabh Pant. Been the season of young Indians and this effort is right up there! #VIVOIPL #DDvSRH
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 10, 2018
Bhuvi: 2 Overs 7 Runs
**Rishabh Pant Happened**
Bhuvi: 4 Overs 51 RunsA Rare Scene To Watch Someone Hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar So Well. Even International Players Struggle To Do So. Says A Lot About Talent Of Pant. ?? #DDvSRH #DDvsSRH #RIshabhPant
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) May 10, 2018
Youngest players to score 1,000 runs in IPL:
20y 218d – RISHABH PANT*
21y 183d – Sanju Samson
22y 175d – Virat Kohli?#DDvSRH— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 10, 2018
Despite being the current orange cap holder, he was neglected for the senior member Indian Cricket squad to England, Ireland and Afghanistan. Many people went on Twitter to express the same:
Rishabh Pant didn?t suddenly happen to the IPL or Indian cricket tonight. Yet he is not in either the India T20 or ODI team to the UK. How long will this joke continue?#DDvSRH
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) May 10, 2018
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
https://twitter.com/TiimesHow/status/994614069486235648
Rishabh Pant is the reason why MS Dhoni is playing with the 200+ strike rate in this IPL.#DDvSRH
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 10, 2018
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
India will be playing England next in their home turf starting July. The tour will begin with an ODI series, the last of which was won by India. Rishabh Pant, who was touted to be included in the team was skipped and instead Ambati Rayudu and Shreyas Iyer were chosen. Thanks to Dhoni’s strong performance this IPL season, Indian team might not be looking for his replacement. But when time comes, Rishabh Pant has shown that he is very much capable of taking things big. At a mere age of 20, he becomes the second youngest player in the IPL’s history to score a century, and the youngest to score 500+ runs in an IPL season.
