Today, all the focus has been around, how bad the Indian team was, as they lost the three-match Test series to NZ 0-3, that too at home. And rightly so, the Indians could not tackle the spin in all the three matches, especially in Pune and Mumbai. Talking only about the final Test, the team could not chase down under-150 in the fourth innings. Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips wreak havoc, as India succumbed to a 25-run defeat.
Rishabh Pant in IPL Auction
But in that loss too, one player stood out for India, and that was Rishabh Pant, who despite the unfavorable conditions, produced innings of 60 and 64 in the match. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali was all praise for the wicket-keeper batter, and went on to make an outrageous comment on the Indian’s IPL Auction future.
“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 said.
IND vs NZ
“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,” he added.
Now, after this series, India has another difficult assignment coming up, where they take on the Aussies in their own backyard. This loss, coupled with the fact, that Australia must be wounded after two back-to-back home series losses against India, could hurt the visitors bad. The first Test begins in Perth on November 22, and skipper Rohit Sharma might not be available due to the birth of his second child during the same time.
