Rishabh Pant is this generation’s Viru, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Rishabh Pant is still relatively new at the highest stage of the game but one thing is more or less clear that the hard-hitting batter is a special talent. At just 21, his fearlessness has left many cricket stalwarts dumbfounded. Perhaps this is the reason why former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has compared Pant with the legendary Virender Sehwag. Manjrekar’s comment has come just a day after Pant’s heroics against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.

Delhi Capitals are now just one win away from making it to the first-ever final in IPL and Pant played a huge role in it. Chasing 163, Delhi Capitals were staring down the barrel after being reduced to 111 for 5 at the end of the fifteenth over. Sunrisers were sitting in the driver’s seat and were looking favourites to win the contest. With the likes of Mohammad Nabi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed in their ranks, scoring the required 52 runs from the last five overs was looking like a herculean task.

However, Pant took the onus on himself to take Delhi over the line and did the task with utmost aplomb. The southpaw shifted gears in a blink of an eye and took the Sunrisers’ attack to the cleaners to make sure Delhi cross the line. Pant smashed 49 from just 21 balls as Delhi chased down the total with 1 ball to spare.  Pant’s 21-ball onslaught was laced with 2 fours and as many as five sixes.

Manjrekar on Rishabh Pant

Sanjay Manjrekar, on Friday, took to Twitter to make a bold claim.  The cricketer-turned-commentator boldly claimed that Rishabh Pant is ‘this generation’s  Viru (Virender Sehwag). He also urged that batsmen like Pant needs to be treated differently as he cautioned the teams against trying to change this kind of batsmen.

“Penny dropped for me last night. Rishabh is this generation’s Viru. The batsman who needs to be treated differently…which is to just let him be. You either pick him or drop him but never try & change him,” wrote Manjrekar.

Pant, meanwhile, will be looking to continue his fine form when Delhi lock horns with Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier on Friday.

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