Rise of Rishabh pant as an all-format cricketer

From being dropped from the national side to becoming the team's first-choice keeper in all formats, it has been a great learning curve for the Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant. He was many times slammed for his immature shot selection and lack of temperament, whether it be from the cricket experts or social media.

He has naturally been a hard striker of the ball and that's his game. In a short career of 4 years, he has already become the only Indian keeper batsman to smash test hundreds in Australia, England and South Africa.

In addition to it, he has also played many magnificent knocks in the IPL as well whether it be his century against the SRH or his blitz against the MI where he wreaked havoc on the side with his innings of 78 off 23 deliveries. 

Let us see some of his breathtaking performances in all three formats of the game.

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Rise of Rishabh Pant in Tests:

The highest score of 159 against Australia— 

India was up 2-1 after three games of a closely-fought series and was desperate to ensure the scoreline at the end of the fourth game remained a winning one. Compared to the previous description, Rishabh Pant played with a more significant batting cushion as he walked in with the team at 329-5. But his form till then had not been remarkable, with him registering scores almost exclusively in the 30s. Batting with the sturdy Cheteshwar Pujara, with whom he would have a few more partnerships of note to come, Pant combined attack with defence to take India to a towering 622/7 declared. He registered his personal-best score of 159 in the process and batted Australia out of the contest. Rishabh Pant's brisk innings were one of the highlights at the end of the series.

114 vs England, The Oval, 2018 — 

Pant was under some pressure heading into the final innings of the final Test against England. Not only was the team 3-1 down in the series, desperately searching for a good finish to a series of missed opportunities, but Pant himself had mustered 48 runs from the preceding five innings with three single-digit scores. When Rishabh Pant came in to bat in India's second innings, the team was struggling at 121 for 5 in pursuit of a tall target of 464. Joining a well-set KL Rahul, Pant played one of the defining innings of his career, with his century including four sixes and fifteen fours. Although the chase ended rather quickly once the 204-run stand was brought to an end, Pant's innings - at a strike rate of close to 80 - provided India with a ray of hope at the end of a desolate tour as well as a glimpse into the future.

Unforgettable knock of 89 against Australia to win the border Gavaskar trophy — 

winning a test series in Australia is not everyone's cup of tea but the Indian team has won two consecutive test series in Australia. India levelled the series in the 3rd test at Sydney, but the main challenge was ahead in the 4th test at gabba where Australia has never been defeated but thanks to the unbelievable knock from Rishabh Pant to take India over the line and win the Border Gavaskar trophy. Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 89 to power India to a historic series-clinching victory at Australia's 'fortress' The Gabba. The dazzling wicketkeeper-batsman scored attacking shots all across the iconic venue and took a special liking to 100-Test veteran Nathan Lyon. Pant's innings came from just 138 balls after opener Shubman Gill struck an equally aggressive 91 at the top of the order to set up the series-decider for an exciting finish late on Day 5.

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Rise of Rishabh Pant in ODIs:

The highest score of 125* against England — Rishabh Pant scored his maiden ODI hundred as India claimed a comprehensive five-wicket win over 50-over world champions England at Old Trafford. The left-handed Pant, known for his fearless batting display, reached the three-figure mark in the 27th game of his ODI career. He remained unbeaten on 125 and even hit five consecutive fours off David Willey, leaving India with just three runs to score in the 43rd over. He teamed up with Pandya, who hit 71 off 55 balls. The pair revived the innings after India struggled at 38 for three in the ninth over. The Pant-Pandya pair stitched together 133 runs for the fifth wicket to set up a comfortable win. Following his match-winning knock against England in the final ODI, India's Rishabh Pant has become the first Asian wicketkeeper-batter to register a century in both Tests and ODI on English soil.

85 against South Africa — 

It was a must-win game for India, who had lost the first encounter of the three-match series. Openers Dhawan and Rahul added 63 runs for the first wicket. However, the team then lost Dhawan (29) and Kohli (0) in quick succession. Pant walked in to bat in the 13th over, with the scorecard reading 64-2. The team needed him to step up in a tricky scenario once again. And so he did, in swashbuckling style. He attacked SA's spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, hitting 10 fours and 2 sixes in 71 deliveries. His counter-attacking knock was a treat to watch for Indian fans. However, India lost the match by 7 wickets with 11 balls to spare as SA chased the target down comfortably.

78 against England at Pune — 

India lost the toss and were put in to bat first. They got a good start from the openers, who added 103 runs in 14.4 overs for the first wicket. However, India then lost three quick wickets in the next three overs. This meant that Pant had to rebuild the innings when he walked in to be. KL Rahul also got out after a scratchy 7 off 18 balls. Hardik Pandya then joined Pant in what would be a match-defining partnership for team India. The destructive duo added 99 runs for the 5th wicket in just 11.4 overs. Pant played his naturally attacking game, dominating opposition spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali.

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Rise of Rishabh Pant in T20s:

His highest score of 65* against west indies — 

India won the toss and elected to field first on a slow Providence wicket. West Indies scored 146/6 in 20 overs. Kieron Pollard (58 runs off 45 balls) and Kieran Powell (32 runs off 20 balls) made major contributions after Deepak Chahar, who took three wickets for four runs, demolished the Windies top order r.In response, India lost two early wickets. Both Shikhar Dhawan (2) and KL Rahul (20) were dismissed inside the first five overs. Pant came in to bat with India reeling at 27/2. Virat Kohli was at the other end with a potentially tricky chase on the cards. The duo complemented each other perfectly and added 106 runs in 12.5 overs, with 55 of those coming in the last five overs. Pant played a measured knock, but was ready to take his chances with Kohli well set at the other end. He finished off the run chase as India won the match by seven wickets. This is the highest score of pant in T20s for India

Electrifying knock of 52* of just 28 balls against Windies — 

West Indies won the toss and put India in to bat first in the second match of the series. Virat Kohli provided the hosts with a sparkling start, but Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav's wickets meant that there was added pressure on Pant when he walked in to bat at 72/3 in the 10th over. Pant and Kohli added 34 runs in 3.5 overs for the fourth wicket, before Roston Chase dismissed the former skipper for 52 runs off 41 balls. The southpaw didn't take much time to settle in, as he started playing his shots from the word go. His crucial 76-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer proved to be a match-defining one. Iyer scored 33 runs off just 18 deliveries as India managed to cross the 180-run mark. Pant was adjudged the Player of the Match for his vital contribution with the bat, as India eventually won the game by just eight runs. It was also the third half-century of his T20I career.

58(38) against the windies — 

India were chasing the target of 184 in 20 overs against the windies at chepauk. The west indies bowlers started off greatly with the wickets of Rohit Sharma and kl Rahul. Pant came into bat at no.4 when the score was 45/2 in 6 overs. Shikhar dhawan was playing steadily from the other end, the score reached 75/2 in 10th over. With another 106 runs still required for victory, the pair started taking calculated risks. Pant decided to take on Kieron Pollard, while Dhawan attacked Oshane Thomas. India went on to add another 45 runs in the next three overs, bringing the required run rate to less than nine. The keeper-batter soon brought up his first T20I half-century with a ramp towards the fine leg. Although he got out in the 19th over, India went on to win the game by seven wickets.

Rishabh pant his having his best time and has the potential to become one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen of the modern era.

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