England vs India: Rishabh Pant hasn’t let his white-ball form affect him in Test cricket, says Ajit Agarkar

Former pacer Ajit Agarkar said that indifferent form in white-ball cricket hasn’t affected Rishabh Pant in Test cricket by any stretch of the imagination. On Day one of India’s ongoing rescheduled fifth Test against Ben Stokes’s England, Pant scored a sparkling 111-ball 146 with the help of 19 fours and four sixes.

On the back of his knock, the visiting team made a recovery from 98 for five in 27.5 overs to 338 for seven at the close of play on the first day.

“He came into the Test match being a little bit under pressure because of his form in white-ball cricket, which has been a tad indifferent. But it hasn’t affected his form in Test cricket,” Agarkar was quoted as saying.

After scoring his fifth Test ton off 89 balls, Pant also broke MS Dhoni’s record of the fastest century by an Indian batter in the purest format. Moreover, the left-handed Pant also became the only visiting wicketkeeper to score more than one overseas Test century on English soil.

“He was batting well, particularly for India. In the five-match series where he was the captain, he was under a bit of pressure,” he stated.

Agarkar, who has a Test century at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, said that Pant’s style of play has benefitted India to a large extent.

“It’s not the first time that he has done it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s just good for India that he has kept repeating it, especially in Test cricket. It not only put the opposition under pressure, but put India so far ahead in the game,” Agarkar added.

India currently have Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami as their overnight batters. Jadeja has played the sheet-anchor’s role, having scored 83 runs from 163 balls with 10 fours.