ENG vs IND, 2nd T20I: Rishabh Pant opens the batting for the Indian team with Rohit Sharma scoring 25 runs before dismissing Richard Gleason.
Rishabh Pant of India. credit: AP
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- Pant scored 26 runs in 15 balls in the second T20I
- India won the match against England by 49 runs
- The third T20 match will be held at Trent Bridge.
Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Team India for sending Rishabh Pant to open the batting in the second T20I at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday, July 9. On Saturday, July 9, Pant came to bat as an opener and he smashed 26 runs in 15 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
The southpaw put on a crucial 49-run partnership for the opening wicket with skipper Rohit Sharma. It was fast bowler Richard Gleason, who dismissed the batsman in the seventh over of the Indian innings.
Manjrekar conceded that if the left-hander goes to open the batting regularly, it will give some relief to the middle-order batsmen.
He wrote on Twitter, “Unexpected but great decision to open with Pant! Throws up exciting possibilities. Plus more breathing room for the batsmen fighting for the middle order.”
Unexpected but brilliant decision to open with Pant!
Throws up exciting possibilities. Even more breathing room for the batsmen fighting for the middle-order spot.— sanjay manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) 9 July 2022
Back in the T20I series against South Africa, where he was the captain, Pant failed to move up the middle order and faced criticism for the same.
However, his 89-ball century in the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham would have given him a lot of confidence even though India lost the match.
Meanwhile, India beat England by 49 runs in the second T20I to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The third and final match of the series will take place on Sunday 10 July at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
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