As the second Test between England and India is slated to start on July 2 at Edgbaston, the home team skipper Ben Stokes has shown adoration towards the Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Following his unbelievable performance in the first Test match at Headingley where he scored twin centuries, 134 and 118 respectively, his brand of aggressive cricket has also been reckoned with highly even by the opponent side.
Despite India’s defeat in the series opener, Pant’s performance provided good chances of victory. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Pant all scored hundreds to help the visitors to a first-innings total of 471, but England defeated them by five wickets after chasing down a record 371 in the fourth innings. India were in the game until the very end because to Pant’s knocks in both innings. Stokes talked candidly about the 27-year-old in an interview with the media prior to the second Test.
“I absolutely love watching Rishabh Pant play cricket. I love the way he takes it on, in all formats of the game. He has got a bit of stick in his time, but that type of talent, when you let that type of talent be free, that is what can happen, you know, like last week.”
Ben Stokes
Notably, when the Indian batsman hit a boundary against Stokes in the first innings, the England captain and Pant were on the same field. Ben Stokes grinned when the shot smashed over the bowler’s head.
“Two hundreds in the game, credit to him. We know we are going to get our chances with the way Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different if one of those shots had gone straight into a hand. But yeah, very dangerous player. We know what he brings to the Indian team. I really enjoy watching him.”
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes makes blunt remark on India’s Jasprit Bumrah dilemma
In the meantime, discussing the potential changes in Indian team and the presence of Jasprit Bumrah at the second Test, Stokes preferred not to comment on the composition of the opposition and instead concentrated on his team.
“That is India’s problem to deal with. I am the captain of England. Let India decide what they want to do and what they want to say publicly.”
Ben Stokes
