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“That Is His Blueprint”: AB De Villiers Backs Pant’s Fearless Batting Amid Critics

Poulomi Chakraborty

AB de Villiers Hails Rishabh Pant's Heroics (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com, @ABdeVilliers17/x.com)AB de Villiers Hails Rishabh Pant's Heroics (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com, @ABdeVilliers17/x.com)

The post-Ro-Ko era in Indian Test cricket got off on the wrong foot, with a 5-wicket loss to England in the series opener. Despite having five centuries in the match, India’s bowling failure cost the game.

Amidst the heartbreaking defeat, Rishabh Pant’s twin centuries gave a massive boost to Team India’s innings. His sensational show even drew praise from AB de Villiers, who couldn’t help but applaud Pant’s fearless heroics.

De Villiers Applauds Pant’s Brilliance

While facing England in the first Test at Headingley, Team India got a great start. While batting first, Gill and Jaiswal’s centuries unlocked a new momentum. But Rishabh Pant’s century added more spark. Even as the batting faltered in the second innings, Pant stood firm, becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter in history to hit centuries in both innings of a Test.

Pant’s century silenced his critics in style, proving that his fearless approach isn’t a flaw, it’s his strength. In his YouTube video, quoted by The Indian Express, AB de Villiers backed Pant, saying his bold style is clearly working and his latest heroics have put all doubts to rest.

“I think sometimes, he does pull the trigger a little early but that is his recipe, that is his blueprint and it has been working for him. You don’t score two hundreds in one match if you don’t know what you’re doing so all credit to him to sticking to his game,” he said.

“A lot of people are giving him criticism, asking him, ‘can’t you see the match situation? Don’t you know what’s going on? Why don’t you read the game better?’ But look at his performances, you can never ever take that away from him and that is what most important is and that to me is a guy that’s happy in his own skin and who is prepared after failure to look in the mirror and to know, I’m the one who is going to answer the questions,” he added.

Taking Risks Is Pant’s Secret Sauce Of Success

In the intense Test match, Rishabh Pant can only bring T20 excitement on the field. Taking risks, playing audacious shots, and dominating bowlers with T20 flair is Pant’s way of batting. While his style has often drawn criticism, AB de Villiers admitted that even he sometimes gets nervous watching Pant’s approach, but the results speak louder than the risks.

“Rishabh, what are you doing? It’s not the time and place for this.’ But look at the results. That’s all that matters. It’s a huge shame they couldn’t cross the line because he deserved to be the Man of the Match,” he said.

After starting the series with a massive setback, Shubman Gill and Co. will look to bounce back as they regroup in Birmingham for the second Test on July 2.