Venkatesh Prasad, a former Indian pacer, has praised Rishabh Pant for his fearless performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka. He pointed out that Pant was fortunate that the injury he suffered previously was to his bottom hand, sparing his top hand.
Pant made 63 runs from 89 balls after initially retiring on three due to a painful wrist injury. His innings helped India declare at 503/9 in their first innings in Colombo on Monday, August 24, before Sri Lanka was reduced to 8/2 by Stumps on Day 2.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Prasad highlighted Pant’s ability to play shots almost single-handedly, benefiting from an uninjured leading arm.
“He keeps hitting shots with one hand. Luckily, the injury was to the bottom hand, and not to the top hand, which is the leading arm. In batting, the top hand has greater control. He was hit on the wrist. It’s a bone. Luckily, he didn’t get an MRI or an X-ray done. That means he is safe,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator commended Pant’s return to the field, noting his unorthodox style and strong self-belief.
“It was just a matter of one wicket. Saransh Jain got out, and Rishabh Pant came, and the way he batted, he was completely unorthodox. He keeps playing his shots. The way he played those pull shots, not in control at all, but he is somebody who backs himself. He plays fearless cricket. He has a lot of self-belief and has excellent hand-eye coordination,” Prasad observed.
During his 63-run innings, Pant hit six fours and two sixes. His partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten on 115 from 177 balls, added 112 runs for the seventh wicket.
“He is a different kind of batter” – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant’s approach in SL vs IND 2026 2nd Test
In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener remarked on Rishabh Pant’s unique style, noting that the 28-year-old hit a massive six off a delivery similar to the one that had previously injured him.
“Rishabh Pant was injured, but he returned. He plays the same way like he has always done. The ball was bowled where he had gotten injured, and he hit it out of the ground. What a guy! He is a different kind of batter,” he said.
Chopra added that Pant has resolved not to alter his style.
“He is made of totally different soil. Many times you feel he is that kind of a player who sees cricket differently. We don’t see it like that. We play slightly cautiously if we get injured, but this guy doesn’t agree. He has sworn that he would play the same way,” Chopra observed.
Rishabh Pant had retired hurt after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara delivery on Day 1 of the Colombo Test. However, he later hit a similar delivery from the same bowler for a massive six over fine leg on Monday.
Edited by Kartik Iyer
