'Very heartening to see': Team India fielding coach elated with Rishabh Pant's stunning return

Rishabh Pant's fearless batting since his return has delighted fans, but what truly impresses Indian team's fielding coach, T Dilip, is his flawless wicketkeeping skills and agility behind the stumps following a significant knee surgery. Pant's gritty knock of 42 proved to be crucial against Pakistan. He scored 18 runs the other day against the USA, and so far looked like one of the better batters at the challenging track of Nassau County International Stadium.

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Pant has been alert behind the stumps

Pant, who returned to competitive cricket during the last IPL after recovering from a serious car accident in December 2022, has emerged as the team's standout player in the T20 World Cup, delivering crucial innings at No. 3. Additionally, his wicketkeeping has been exceptional.

"The best thing is that Rishabh has done so well in his comeback. Especially the batting is considered to be very good. But one of the good things about him is the way he came back as a wicketkeeper," Dilip said ahead of the team's last group league game against Canada.

For the fielding coach, the ability to move laterally smoothly after the knee surgery is a significant achievement.

"Especially with an injury he had, to come back as a wicketkeeper and do that lateral movement, so that is very heartening to see." About his batting strategy, the coach said that the Roorkee man always does simulation in the nets and that helps him in matches.

"Coming to your question about batting differently, having different plans in the match, it's a strategy, it's something which Rishabh always does, is that he tries everything in practice whatever comes in a match so that he is well prepared with his options whatever he wants to try in a match."