Ahead of the eagerly awaited T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Suryakumar Yadav’s childhood coach, Ashok Aswalkar, has remarked that Rishabh Pant is the greatest advantage for the Men in Blue in the tournament.
India is set to face Pakistan in their next match of the T20 World Cup 2024, taking place on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
After recovering from a severe accident in December 2022, Pant returned to international cricket. The wicketkeeper-batsman played a key role in helping India achieve the modest target of 97 with over seven overs remaining.
Ashok Aswalkar told ANI that Rishabh Pant is the greatest asset for the team, highlighting his incredible comeback after the accident and noting his strong mindset and mental toughness.
At the start of his innings, he found it challenging to handle the unexpected bounce of the pitch and even took hits on his arm. However, the left-handed batsman ultimately experienced a period of exceptional form with the bat.
The 26-year-old remained not out, scoring 36 runs from 26 balls, featuring three boundaries and two massive sixes.
His second six was a remarkable display of skill. He effortlessly executed a reverse scoop off a length delivery, sending the ball soaring over the wicketkeeper’s head and beyond the boundary. Aswalkar mentioned that if openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fail to capitalize on their starts, the outcome of the match could be uncertain.
T20 World Cup Squad
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.