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Delhi teen Rishabh hits it like idol Viru, slams triple century
MUMBAI: When teenaged Delhi opener Rishabh Pant reached his second consecutive first-class century on Saturday in the Ranji Trophy Group B tie against Maharashtra,
MUMBAI: When teenaged Delhi opener Rishabh Pant reached his second consecutive first-class century on Saturday in the Ranji Trophy Group B tie against Maharashtra, he raised his bat, pointing it towards teammates in the dressing room.
The left-hander’s celebration on reaching the double century saw him also remove his helmet. But a superb triple century saw some more exuberance, the 19-year-old raising his arms and looking skywards with helmet in hand. He had just become the third youngest Indian to score a triple ton, after Mumbai’s Wasim Jaffer and Tamil Nadu’s Abhinav Mukund.
Removing the helmet is a common mark of celebration, but for Pant, it’s far more significant. He almost helped Delhi overhaul Maharashtra’s first innings 635/2 declared until he was stumped off left-arm spinner Satyajeet Bacchav on 308. Delhi lost their last three wickets for 19 runs to be all out for 590, falling 45 runs short of Maharashtra’s total. Maharashtra took three points for the first innings lead. Trying to loft Bachhav for his tenth six of the 326-ball innings (42x4, 9x6), he missed the line to be dismissed.
Pant likes to set big goals. After scoring a century (146 vs Assam) in the Ranji opener, his target was a double ton. “I had set a target that I will not remove the helmet till I get a 200 in Ranji. I kept giving myself targets and it feels good to remove the helmet after so long. Everyone gets 100. It doesn’t give that feel. Two hundred mein alag feel aata hai (it feels different after a double hundred),” Pant said.
What next? “I haven’t thought about the next target. This keeps pushing me… small targets don’t benefit me. The more you push, the better you get.”
DOMINANT
Pant was so dominant that in his 182-run seventh wicket stand with Varun Sood (32no), he contributed 145 runs. He batted for 468 minutes after keeping wicket on the first two days. “After keeping, they (team management) asked me if I could do it. I told them there is no problem. I had always wanted to play a long innings, I did it but I could have done more. I feel sad. The main thing was not about making runs, it was to give Delhi three points at any cost. That sadness will stay,” said Pant.
Pant’s idol Virender Sehwag doffed his hat. “Rishabh Pant ne Pant utar di,” tweeted the former India opener.
“I wanted to bat with Viru bhaiya, but never could. To be congratulated by him is a nice thing. He was my favourite player. When we met during the IPL, I told him. He said koi nahi, meri tarah batting karle (Just bat like me),” said Pant, bursting into laughter.
