VVS Laxman calls Rishabh Pant ‘future of Indian cricket’

Delhi Capitals (DC) wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant scored only three fifties this Indian Premier League (IPL) season and his overall performance hasn’t been as similar to the one in 2018. Yet, the man has found adulation among the supporters multiplying fast this season and that is because he has already made a mark in international cricket now.

On Wednesday, Pant scored a special knock of 49 in 21 balls that saw his side breaking free and winning a tight game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator. DC will play Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier in Visakhapatnam on Friday and the fans’ eyes will be on yet another heroic act from the youngster to take the franchise to their first ever IPL final.

Pant has scored 450 runs from 15 games in this IPL at an average of 32 plus and strike-rate of 163 above but he didn’t yet make it to the Indian World Cup squad as Dinesh Karthik got through. Pant’s knock against the Sunrisers has refuelled the call for his inclusion in the squad for which he has been kept as a standby.

While a number of experts have praised Pant, former India batsman VVS Laxman has also chipped in and called the 21-year-old the future of Indian cricket. Laxman is also the mentor of the Sunrisers who Pant knocked out of the tournament but that didn’t stop the former cricketer from lauding the hard-hitting batsman who scored 159 not out in a Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this year.

Pant’s maturity level impresses VVS

“The dangerous Rishabh Pant was still around, and he showcased his ability with a savage assault on Basil Thampi. As painful as it was to be at the receiving end, it was also exhilarating to see Rishabh take on the bowlers. He is clearly the future of Indian cricket, and it pleased me no end to witness the maturity he showed, though he will be disappointed that he wasn’t around to finish off the job,” the 44-year-old former Hyderabadi batsman was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.com.

Laxman also said that Sunrisers learnt from their mistakes this season and will come back stronger next year. The 2018 finalists were hit by the departure of their opening duo David Warner and Jonny Bairstow and were lucky to have scraped through to the playoffs with just 12 points.

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