KL Rahul backs Rishabh Pant to be himself after twin centuries against England

Indian opener KL Rahul wants Rishabh Pant to be himself in order to get the best out of the left-hander. Pant scored a fine knock of 118 runs off 140 balls with the help of 15 fours and three sixes on the fourth day’s play against England in the second innings of the opening Test at Leeds, Headingley.

Earlier, in the first innings, the left-hander scored a crucial knock of 134 runs to help India post 471 runs on the board. While Pant added 209 runs with Shubman Gill in the first essay, he added 195 runs with KL Rahul in the second.

This was Pant’s eight Test century as he continues to impress in the red-ball version. Pant is the first Indian batter to score twin centuries in a Test match in English conditions. The left-hander also became the seventh Indian batter to score two centuries in a Test match and became the second wicket-keeper after Andy Flower to score hundreds in each innings of a Test.

KL Rahul said on Sky Sports, “It is hard for us to understand his mindset but you let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant. There is obviously a method to his madness as he is averaging 45 in Test cricket. There is a lot of thinking about the outrageous shots he plays. You just try to calm him down as much as possible between balls.”

Rahul said an interesting day of Test cricket beckons on Tuesday as he feels England batters won’t find it easy.

Rahul added, “It’s a blockbuster finish waiting tomorrow. At this stage of cricket I’m at, I’m a lot more calm in my head and not chasing numbers. Someone’s got to win tomorrow, it’ll be an interesting day. The wicket is not as easy as the first innings, they won’t find it as easy to hit the ball on the rise.”

England need 350 runs to win with all 10 wickets in hand.