"On a rank turner, it seemed like he came out to bat on a normal wicket" - Saba Karim lauds Rishabh Pant's knocks in IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test
Saba Karim has lauded Rishabh Pant for playing 'incredible' knocks in both innings of the third Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. He noted that the destructive wicketkeeper-batter made a rank turner seem placid.
Pant smashed 60 runs off 59 deliveries in India's first innings of the Mumbai Test. He followed that up with a 57-ball 64 in the second essay but couldn't help the hosts avoid a 25-run defeat.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Saba was asked about his thoughts on Pant's second-innings knock.
"Rishabh Pant's batting has been incredible in both innings. No matter how much we praise him, we are falling short of words. On a surface like this, he was stepping out and hitting in front of the wickets, and playing square as well. We rarely see this in Indian conditions or on Indian wickets," he responded.
"It seemed like he erased the length on which Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel were trying to bowl. He was the only batter in the entire Test match who was able to do that. Daryl Mitchell and Will Young scored runs but they were having difficulties. However, on a rank turner, it seemed like he (Pant) came out to bat on a normal wicket. That's why he was finding it easy to play different kinds of shots," the former India wicketkeeper-batter added.
Pant struck nine fours and a six during his 64-run second-innings knock. Washington Sundar (12) and Rohit Sharma (11) were the only other Indian players to reach double digits in the second essay.
"You can do that on the wicket only if you have immense confidence" - Saba Karim on Rishabh Pant forcing the bowlers to bowl loose balls
![Rishabh Pant smashed 34 runs off 27 deliveries against Ajaz Patel in the second innings. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/a0586-17306378998313-1920.jpg?w=500)
During the same discussion, Saba Karim was asked about Rishabh Pant's dominant approach against Ajaz Patel.
"We saw that in the first innings and this innings as well. If you finish the most major threat, it becomes easy. Parthiv Patel said that Rishabh Pant forces the bowlers to bowl loose balls. It's easy to say that while sitting here but you can do that on the wicket only if you have immense confidence," he replied.
The former India selector added that Pant's excellent defensive technique complements his strokeplay.
"The confidence with which he goes into the ground and plays the first ball, he gives the sign to the bowlers there itself that no matter how much the wicket might be favorable to them, he has come to dominate. On top of that, he has a solid defensive technique. So he is an extremely special player," Saba observed.
Pant was the seventh Indian wicket to fall in the second innings. Although the on-field umpire had ruled him not-out, the decision was reversed on review slightly controversially.