NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali on Sunday lavished praise on swashbuckling Rishabh Pant despite India’s 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand, commending star batter’s crucial knock in difficult conditions.
Pant stood out as one of the few Indian batters who thrived on the spin-heavy surface New Zealand skillfully exploited, scoring 60 in the first innings and following it up with 64 in the second in Mumbai.
“Rishabh Pant scored 60 in the first innings and 64 in the second. What can I say about this kid! People might say he’s worth 25 crore, but in my opinion, he should go for 50 crore,” Basit remarked.
Basit was particularly impressed by Pant’s smart shot-selection, which allowed him to avoid risky shots in areas where he knew he was vulnerable.
“When he was batting on this surface, it looked as if it was a flat pitch—he was hitting wherever he wanted. But he was very smart with his shot selection, knowing not to play shots in areas where he’s weak. Others didn’t manage to do this,” Basit observed.
Pant’s efforts were a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing series for India, and his fearlessness shone through in moments where other batters faltered.
During the third Test in Mumbai, Pant joined an elite list by becoming only the third player to hit 50 sixes in the World Test Championship (WTC), a feat previously achieved only by Ben Stokes and Rohit Sharma.
New Zealand Create History | Indian Batters Nay Pant Ki Mehnat Par Pani Pher Diya | Basit Ali
Pant’s aggressive yet controlled batting style allowed him to reach this milestone in just 29 WTC matches.
Entering the game after the dismissal of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Pant’s quick adaptation to the tricky pitch was evident as he struck a six off only the third ball he faced, demonstrating his natural ability to shift momentum.
Despite Pant’s standout performances, India’s batting lineup faltered, unable to chase New Zealand’s target of 147 in the final Test.
New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack and pitch-friendly conditions led India to collapse to 121 all out, resulting in a 25-run loss and an unprecedented 3-0 whitewash at home.