'That type of talent… love watching him play!': Ben Stokes lavishes praise on Rishabh Pant

Birmingham: England were at the receiving end of two blistering centuries from Rishabh Pant in the opening Test at Leeds but home skipper Ben Stokes, despite being an opposition player, is a massive fan of the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter.

“Even though he’s in the opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket. I love the way he takes it on in all formats of the game. He’s come under the stick a few times in his career, but that type of talent… when you let that type of talent be free, that’s what can happen (like) in the last week,” said Stokes at the pre-match press conference here in Edgbaston on Tuesday.

“Credit to him, two hundreds in the game. We know we’re going to get our chances with the way that Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different. One of those, you know, gone straight off into our hands. But, yeah, a very dangerous player. We know what he brings to the Indian team, but I really enjoy watching Rishabh play cricket.”

India dominated the opening Test for large parts, but their failure to seize the initiative while on top and poor bowling on the final day saw them crash to a stinging five-wicket defeat. India also appear confused about their team combinations, especially with the suspense around the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. When asked if England are favourites to open a 2-0 lead, Stokes, while supremely confident of his team’s chances, felt India will come hard at them.

“They always fight hard, come hard. Very passionate team. I think it’s pretty clear that there’s always pressure on the shoulders of any international sportsmen, but playing for India, especially in cricket, there’s probably a bit more than any other nation. So, yeah, a very proud nation. Don’t take anything for granted from last week,” felt Stokes.

Apart from England winning, it was a personally encouraging Test for Stokes, who only returned to action recently from a hamstring surgery.

“I feel better now than I did on Thursday and Friday,” said Stokes, evoking laughter. “I was a shadow of myself, but it goes to show how much a five-day Test match takes out of you. I was pretty tired.”