India vs England: Rishabh Pant plays an outrageous reverse sweep off James Anderson

Rishabh Pant, on Friday, scored his first Test hundred in India as he bailed the team out of trouble in the ongoing fourth Test against England. The youngster showed remarkable maturity and composure to play one of his best knocks in international cricket. India were in deep trouble after being reduced to 80 for 4 when Pant joined Rohit Sharma in the middle.

With the team in a precarious situation, Pant decided against playing in his usual aggressive manner. He did not go for the big shots early on like he usually does and waited for poor deliveries to play the big shots. As a result, it took him 82 deliveries to reach his fifty. However, it did not take him long to change gears.

Soon after completing his half-century, the youngster started firing on all cylinders and reached his next fifty off just 33 balls to complete his century in just 115 balls. Pant reached his ton with a stunning six off Joe Root. He, however, could not convert his century into a big one and was out for 101. James Anderson ended Pant’s fighting knock in Ahmedabad.

His knock was studded with 13 fours and two sixes. Before his departure, Pant bailed India out of trouble with a 113-run stand with Washington Sundar. At one stage, India were reduced to 146 for 6 before Pant and Sundar joined hands. The duo mixed caution with aggression to put India in a strong position in the game.

Rishabh Pant’s outrageous shot

During his knock, Rishabh Pant pulled off an outrageous shot against James Anderson in the 83rd over. With Anderson operating with the second new ball, it was expected that Pant would take a cautious approach. But the youngster had some other ideas as he decided to take the attack to the legendary fast-bowler.

In the very first over after the new ball became available, he hit Anderson for two consecutive fours. In the following over, he hit another four off Ben Stokes before unleashing the outrageous shot in the 83rd over off Anderson’s bowling. The India star played an unbelievable reverse lap over the slip fielder for another four.

Here is a clip of that shot from Rishabh Pant:

I don’t think anyone has had the skill audacity to do that to Jimmy Anderson (in a Test) before #INDvENG #astonishing pic.twitter.com/T3snjDstW5

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) March 5, 2021

Virat Kohli's reaction. pic.twitter.com/ipqAvICGlN

— Simran (@CowCorner9) February 14, 2021