Blooming Pant serves a warning

Just as Rishabh Pant was beginning to look at home abroad, he issued a warning to those arriving on Indian shores with a century so mature, we were left to wonder why we ever doubted him.

Thrust into the limelight because of his ability as a white-ball marauder, everyone -- coach Ravi Shatri downwards -- bore the brunt of criticism for promoting the youngster to the post of wicketkeeper-batsman in Tests when a number of experienced and eligible hands were ready to fill the void left by MS Dhoni.

Fast forward to three years since his debut against England in Nottingham, even Rohit Sharma, the vice-captain, couldn’t help himself but say that Pant has made the position his own. Also, for the first time since Dhoni’s exit six years ago has someone from the team admitted that Dhoni was not missed.

While that may be going a bit too far since the sample size on offer is too small, and Pant still needs some work -- though vastly improved now -- on his keeping. But as far as batting is concerned, he’s proving to be every bit worth the trust placed in him by the team management.

“He bats in his own style,” said Rohit in the post-day press conference on Friday. “You need these sorts of batsmen in your team, batsmen who take chances and change the course of the game in no time. We need that spark in the middle and Pant brings us that. The game isn’t what it used to be before so we need to also be aware of that. Pant backs his ability and the team backs him entirely. I know as a player how important it is to get the backing of your team, your captain and your coach. Which is why when he gets out sometimes trying the same thing, we shouldn’t be disappointed.”

“See, today, we were not sure of taking the lead at one stage and look at us now. He changed the course in an hour,” he added.

Besides two breathtaking centuries in England and Australia, Pant, who had played only two home Tests until the start of this series, showed signs of an evolved self when he struck a patient 91 and 58 not out in the first-innings of the first two Tests. He made a muck of the one chance he had to bat in the third day-night Test. But, as we have learnt with time, it’s only a matter of time before he finds a bowling unit and a situation he wants to own.

The kicker is that England’s bowling unit had done a fabulous job until then. They kept India on a leash and even reduced them to 146/6. What followed was a book full of Pant and his best.

Consciously cautious, he kept the scorecard ticking with deft pushes down the ground for no-hassle singles. Never did he look out of sorts. Having got his eye in, he went from 0 to 100 without ever straining his balance.

Though naturally awkward when playing certain strokes, he rarely missed out on timing the ball. With this gift ready to give, he dismissed James Anderson and Ben Stokes without losing his smile.

India went from a nail-biting mess to 294 for 7 at stumps, all with a 113-run partnership between Pant and Washington Sundar. Pant scored 71 of those runs in an innings which was only be called an event.

What a fine way to bring up your first century at home.