Rishabh Pant: I don’t focus on the bowler, I focus on what he is bowling

Rishabh Pant was in full flow as he smashed all the English bowlers all over the park. He took a special liking to left-arm spinner Jack Leach.

At the end of the day, Leach’s figures read – 71/0 from 9 overs.

Pant smashed 146 off just 111 balls to help India to 338/7 at the end of day 1. The wicket-keeper batsman’s counter-attacking innings helped India out of trouble, after they had been reduced to 98/5, just after lunch.

Pant along with Jadeja stitched a 222 run partnership to held India to 320/5, before the former played one shot too many and was dismissed by former England captain, Joe Root.

Ben Stokes’ ploy involved using the wiley left arm spinner but, the plan failed dismally. Leach was clobbered all over the park by Pant. This also involves Leach being smashed for 2 4’s and 2 6’s in what appeared to be his last over of the day.

Left handed southpaw had faced many criticisms recently in white ball cricket but, he tackled those critics in the best manner possible.

When quizzed about about the onslaught on Leach, Pant said he went after the ball, not the bowler.

“I don’t focus on the bowler; I focus on what he is bowling. It is not pre-planned that I have to after this bowler, If I feel I can hit the ball, I do that.”

I like the opposition (England) but I do not think about it much. I just look to give my 100 per cent in every match. My focus is on the cricket I play,” said Pant.

Next, Pant spoke about his mindset during the outstanding innings.

“From childhood, my coach Tarak sir told me that you can hit the ball, but work on your defence as well. I keep working on my defence, in Test cricket, defence is important.

“Especially in conditions like England, where you know the bowler is bowling well, then it becomes important to disturb his line and length. I keep trying that I do not play in the same manner so that the bowler gets mentally disturbed,” he added.

“As a player, I look to give my 100 percent, I try to play my percentage, if I feel if it’s there for me to try a different shot or hit the ball, I tend to back it. I have focused on that and it’s helping me, I guess,” signed off Pant.

Jadeja and Pant helped put India in a dominant position at the end of the day.