Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua in their second Super 8 T20 World Cup 2024 match. While the Men in Blue have the momentum on their side, having just beaten Afghanistan in their last encounter, Bangladesh are reeling from a loss to Australia and will need to pull off an upset in Antigua to stay in the race for the semi-finals. Watch as experts discuss what India needs to do to win the second straight super 8 match in the fresh episode of Pitch Battle.
#IndiaVsBangladesh #T20WorldCup #TeamIndia #Super8 #CricketFever #MatchDay #SportsNews #CricketFans #ExcitingMatch #BigGame #T20Cricket #IndiaCricket #BangladeshCricket #SportsUpdate #WatchNow
~PR.152~ED.155~GR.125~
#IndiaVsBangladesh #T20WorldCup #TeamIndia #Super8 #CricketFever #MatchDay #SportsNews #CricketFans #ExcitingMatch #BigGame #T20Cricket #IndiaCricket #BangladeshCricket #SportsUpdate #WatchNow
~PR.152~ED.155~GR.125~
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, everyone. You're watching Pitch Battle. I'm your host, Indra Neel. Today, we have India vs Bangladesh.
00:10T20 World Cup match. You know, whenever that Bangladesh team comes to my mind, I'm reminded often about that 2007 encounter which we lost by five wickets in Port of Spain.
00:22I can't, can't sort of rub it out of my memory. I mean, what happened on that day.
00:28Bangladesh, of course, it's not a big side as much as we think they are at home. But when they come and play the ICC events, especially against India and Sri Lanka, they are a different beast.
00:41They have done well over the years. They pushed the opposition, which is India, and they have done it time and again.
00:47So, this time again, we are expecting some sort of battle between bat and ball. And that's what cricket makes it interesting.
00:53Why people got bored in the US? Because it was one-sided. Why people got bored? Probably not bored. I have to correct myself.
01:01When IPL happened, so many runs were scored. I don't know what happened then. But it's an equal battle between bat and ball.
01:09Really, that's the moment you want to capture as a fan, as a journalist, as an onlooker, whosoever is watching the game.
01:16Tonight, it's going to be Bangladesh vs India. India vs Bangladesh. Whichever is the right way.
01:24But to take the discussion forward, we have joined Bhavinash and Shakya. Welcome, gentlemen.
01:31Thank you, Gaurav.
01:34Bangladesh. Bangladesh. Stood on seven. I can't forget that day when we lost by five wickets.
01:42We were all out by 191 or something. And they rounded off the match at the loss of five wickets. Something of that sort happened.
01:51But Bangladesh is a scary sight, Abhinav. Come to think of it. I am really sceptical. I am really worried. They can do anything.
02:01We have won matches. If I am not mistaken, at home, Aditya Pandya delivered that over. Dhoni was the captain, remember?
02:10Yes. Chinna Swamy. I mean, they are a good side.
02:18Even last T20 World Cup, when we faced them, Dada, we set a stiff target of 180+.
02:29And then, the way Littendas gave the start to the Bangladesh team. Eventually, the match was decided via DLS and India ended up winning that game.
02:39But even in that game, it was not a one-sided affair. Bangladesh have been giving some tough competition to India.
02:47They might not have been able to cross the final hurdle. But they are the sides who cannot be taken lightly in any means.
02:56So, Team India will have to be cautious once again. Though Bangladesh are coming on the back of a defeat and India are on a roll.
03:05But you never really know what will happen in the T20 format. It's a lottery format.
03:11And one wrong decision or one good over might turn the match upside down.
03:16So, definitely, Bangladesh are a team to look out for. Yes, they have not been able to live up to the reputation that they have carved.
03:27Now and then, they are only able to pull off a couple of upsets. Nothing more.
03:33But when it comes to India, as you rightly mentioned, when it comes to India, Sri Lanka, they are a different beast.
03:40Absolutely. Shakya, you know, talk about momentum. Shifting gears from one… I mean, the way things happen in T20 game.
03:52One ball can change the entire course of the match. And it's so short. And that's why, you know, lot of smaller teams come into the equation so easily.
04:02And the fact that so many people are playing so… I mean, that many leagues across the world.
04:07So, the competition, the margin of error is really less. Your thoughts on that? And now, how do you see Bangladesh as an opposition for India tonight?
04:15Yeah, T20 is one of the reasons why I believe the ICC and all the associations have embraced T20 is because of what you are talking about.
04:27The fact that things can change in a very quick moment. And that's what's happened so far. Look at the number of teams that have done well.
04:38Afghanistan, Bangladesh, USA, Scotland was in contention for a short while in this tournament.
04:43In fact, a lot of teams have punched above their weight in this particular T20 World Cup.
04:47And I see the T20 format growing and growing because it is something which is allowing the newer teams, newer and younger teams to come through.
04:56As far as Bangladesh is talking about, I have heard the discussion that's been going on right now.
05:02The 2007 match that we played, we lost that game. But one of the good things that came out of that game was, in the next one year, India moved on to a younger limited oversight.
05:18Some of the seniors were gradually phased out. You can't say they were dropped. They are very respected players like Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly.
05:27But they were gradually phased out, is what you can say. And we moved to a set of younger players.
05:32And I see at the end of this T20 World Cup, there are parallels. We are going to see some of the older people being phased out of the T20 format after this tournament.
05:43But I genuinely, I mean, Bangladesh is a team that can't be taken lightly. They have been around for a while.
05:52They have not done justice to their potential. But of course, when it comes to facing India, there is a different energy that's there.
06:01I guess, because we are neighbouring countries, therefore, everybody wants to get motivated when it's coming to playing India, especially Bangladesh.
06:12And the India-Pakistan rivalry is well-known. But still, I would say, the way India is playing in this tournament, we have some big names have not delivered.
06:24But I think India will probably start favourites because our middle order seems to be in good shape and our bowling has been delivering throughout.
06:34So, yeah. I mean, I hope today is not a repeat of 2007.
06:39No, no, no. No way, man. We will have to starve. We won't eat dinner. We will be so sad if that happens.
06:49Not even in our minds. We can think of…
06:53In fact, my memory of an India-Bangladesh encounter goes back to 2005. The fateful day of December 25th, when Bangladesh defeated India.
07:06When you were in school?
07:08I was in school. I was in school. I was watching the game and India, I mean, they just surrendered against Bangladesh in that ODI.
07:17The second ODI. It was the first time that they lost a match against Bangladesh.
07:24MS Dhoni's debut series, and he also couldn't do well in that match, was run out.
07:30So, a lot of memories of Bangladesh upsetting India that day. Because that Indian side was…
07:38Started with all the greats of the game. I mean, there was Saurav Ganguly, there was Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and everybody else was there.
07:47But that was the day which, I think, more than the 2007 defeat, that memory of 2005 loss is still fresh in my mind.
07:59Because on that day, I was not in a mood to digest the fact that India are going to… They have lost it.
08:07True. That was one day. I mean, for me, it's 2005-2007 World Cup match. I mean, I can't get over that.
08:20But Shakya, I mean, looking at the way… I mean, we had spoken about on our last show also that Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, they have become a talking point once again.
08:34Because they are not scoring. And that's the only two positions which is fixed. Otherwise… And Isha Pandya also, to some extent.
08:40So, are we expecting something worthwhile coming from their back? Because they haven't contributed so consistently.
08:50How do you see these two stalwarts are going to take this game? I mean, what's the way forward for them right now?
08:59Bangladesh, before we face Australia. I don't know. I mean, something happens to our team. And we see that yellow jersey. We have spoken about it again and again.
09:08But your thoughts on these two openers who have failed to give a good start. And a lot of people are right. We had the first one probably discussed yesterday.
09:17It's a concern. It's a huge concern. You don't get a good start. How do you expect the team to win?
09:24I mean, whenever we have done well, everything… It's not about middle order. It's also about getting a good start. Getting a flying start.
09:30And your thoughts, Shakya? How do you think they will cope with this?
09:36Indranil, I do think a concession should be made in this particular tournament because of the surfaces on which they are being played.
09:46And even yesterday, a player like Joss Butler, who's as good a T20 batter there is, he made 17 of 20 balls which could have been costly, which eventually ended up being costly to England.
10:02And we don't know it could cost England qualification as well. So, when you have batting up till number 8, it may not necessarily be the number of runs you are making.
10:13But the speed at which you are making those runs because eventually, everyone needs to get that much amount of time.
10:20Rohit Sharma still has a ghost of it because of the innings he played in the 2022 semi-final.
10:26But I won't be concerned about the number of runs they make. I would be, as you are rightly saying, if they can give a good start.
10:35And if you can get to about 50 in the first 6 or 60 in the first 6, I think that will be good enough.
10:42And if you lose a wicket along the way, that's fine.
10:45But my concern would be a runner ball. My concern would be if Joss Butler made 17 of 20.
10:55That's not the kind of innings that you would want any of these two people to play.
10:59But again, Bangladesh has, on the surfaces that this tournament is being played, left-arm seam has been troublesome for Rohit Sharma and a little bit to Virat Kohli as well.
11:14And they have tied them up. It's not just been wickets. It's also the number of dot balls.
11:22And today, Mustafizur Rahman, who is a very, very skilled bowler in this format on these pitches, they are going to be up against him.
11:32And Mustafizur Rahman has a good record against Rohit Sharma.
11:36So, again, I would say, definitely, they need to handle them.
11:45To me, he will be the main threat because I think India has been doing fine against other bowling left-arm pace throughout the tournament has been a bit of a concern for India.
11:57And Mustafizur Rahman will be someone who they need to watch out for.
12:01But still, I would be more concerned if you are not making the big scores.
12:09I mean, Rohit and Virat, it's okay. Don't make a 50. But even if you can make a 30 of 20 balls or a 35, whatever, something with that strike rate, I will take that.
12:21Because in the team, score has got to be the priority.
12:25Absolutely. You have really taken up a very good point. I remember when this generation of cricketers…
12:33You remember last year when Tilak Varma was batting with Hardik Pandya and he was on the verge of scoring a 50.
12:42And Hardik Pandya deliberately ensured that he doesn't get his 50. And everyone sort of started trolling Hardik.
12:48But Hardik's point of view was very simple. When you are playing, you are playing for your team. No matter what happens.
12:53You have seen it time and again, that generation of cricketers, where Virat Kulli was there, Sachin Tendulkar.
13:00Number made a lot of difference. But here, it's not about your runs. It's about how much is the team going to score.
13:06How much your team is going to benefit through your score. That is the main point.
13:11And I can see that shift. Despite these two stalwarts being there, who have got great numbers, I can see that sudden shift.
13:20You know, not playing, not bothered about what people say. You know, I mean, purest of the game would really curse Rishabh Pant.
13:26Because he is playing that reverse sweep to a straight ball, directed towards the stumps. But all that is happening.
13:33Because cricket has changed so much. And so has the attitude. The mental conditioning has changed so much.
13:41And people want to play for their team. And Rishabh Pant, the way he is playing.
13:44Avinash, your thoughts? Can you sense it? I can sense it very well.
13:52Don't worry if you get out. But go for the shots.
13:55Absolutely. We have seen. There is a very popular dialogue.
14:04This is a new India. He enters the house and hits. It is all coming from that school of thought, actually.
14:15The game has also evolved a lot. And we have seen over the years what has been happening.
14:21And let us go back to the 2016 India and West Indies semi-finals in Mumbai.
14:26What happened there? India was better side. They scored good runs.
14:30But the difference West Indies created, not just in the semi-finals, even in the finals was that they were hitting sixes.
14:38And that was the difference. So, if you are scoring boundaries,
14:42even if you are not rotating the strike, which Radkoli and Dhoni did very well, they were rotating the strike.
14:49But when you have potential big hitters in the side who can explode right from the start,
14:56and they just lay the entire bowling lineup, make it look so nimble and feeble.
15:05So, that is the shift that we have seen in world cricket, but not in Indian cricket.
15:11With the likes of Rishabh Pant, Surya Kumar Yadav to an extent.
15:15And now, also, the likes of Tilak Verma, Abhishek Sharma, who will be into the fray in the next couple of years.
15:24Rinku Singhs. And these are all fearless cricketers.
15:28They are not concerned about the wickets that they are playing on.
15:33Also, the personal milestones, at times, they just keep it aside and look at contributing for the team.
15:40It's a team game. You will not be awarded or rewarded for the individual performances.
15:45Yes, you will be hailed. But at the end of the day, what we are witnessing is,
15:51there's a drop of a trophy in the Indian team's cabinet for the last 11 years.
15:55And it's because we have always been keeping personal milestones above the team efforts.
16:03So, unless and until… I mean, it's not just about the players.
16:06I mean, players might not be thinking on those lines.
16:10But actually, it's the fans and the spectators and the expectations of the Indian cricket fans is such that,
16:16okay, Virat Kohli should score runs no matter what. Rohit Sharma should score runs no matter what.
16:22Or Hardik Pandya, it's X, Y, Z.
16:24So, this thirst, this hunger for an individual player's performance should just satiate.
16:32And only then can we graduate to the next level.
16:38Luckily for us, fortunately for us, the younger generation doesn't think the way
16:44this generation used to think.
16:45So, that's a shift we are witnessing.
16:48And it is good for the game that the likes of Rishabh Pant and others,
16:53they are just playing some selfless games.
16:57So true.
16:57I mean, how often have you seen these cricketers coming and doing stuff for themselves,
17:05playing for those numbers.
17:07And when you actually talk to them, they say,
17:08no, no, I don't play for any number.
17:10I play for the team. I want the team to benefit.
17:13But if you look back and turn the history pages, you will only see them benefiting more than…
17:18And the fact that we have not…
17:21Because of this attitude, we have never played on knockout matches as a team.
17:25It's not about how much you are contributing to your overall stats.
17:32I mean, that's the hallmark.
17:34That's the main thing on the basis of which you can win ICC tournaments.
17:38That hasn't happened.
17:39Because we have never turned up as a team on big days.
17:43This is one more opportunity.
17:45Because this generation will be phased out if we don't win.
17:49If we win, I don't know what happens.
17:50I mean, they should sort of…
17:52And no one wants to go away from T20 cricket.
17:55Because that's the market-driven force.
17:59They want to be seen playing for India so that it helps their paycheck in IPL.
18:04All that is interlinked.
18:06Shakya, how do you want to explain that phenomena?
18:09Which is the fat paycheck which you need and that's why you don't want to give up that easily.
18:15Yeah, it's not ideal.
18:18It's really not ideal.
18:19Because you will see in other countries, people retire from formats.
18:24And whether you are good enough or not good enough…
18:29But here, we don't hear it.
18:30We hear whenever a player has retired, we have retired from all formats.
18:35You will never hear a player saying, I am retired from one format or we have retired from this one.
18:41And certainly, nobody retires from T20 cricket.
18:44We have not…
18:44Even Cheteshwar Poochara who will never play a T20 match has still not said that I am not available
18:49for limited overs cricket.
18:51So, we don't hear this in India.
18:54But of course, that IPL bid comes into the picture.
18:59And we will see what happens.
19:02We will see what happens next year.
19:03But yes, there is going to be a churn at the end of this tournament.
19:05It's inevitable.
19:10But what you are talking about individual milestones, I believe the fans know it.
19:15The fans make more of it than what actually goes on.
19:19You were a witness to it, Indranil, in 2004.
19:22You were in Pakistan when Sachin Tendulkar was declared…
19:28When he was on 194.
19:31And there was a huge tamasha that happened.
19:34That why did Rahul Dravid declare on 194?
19:37So, but I don't know if that made…
19:41What Sachin Tendulkar was thinking of, he made one statement, I am disappointed.
19:44But I don't think we should have read too much into it.
19:46But there was so much chaos that broke out between Sachin Tendulkar's fans and Rahul Dravid's fans.
19:54And similarly, this keeps going on.
19:55But you know, you recently saw in the 2011 World Cup, which we won.
20:00Gautam Gambhir got out for 97.
20:03We have not really ever heard him complaining about why he…
20:07He himself has not complained about why he didn't get the 100.
20:10If he got it, he got it.
20:11But India won the match.
20:13And we won that Multan match as well.
20:15But yes, it's a habit that should change.
20:18It's definitely a habit that should change.
20:20And even now, in T20 cricket, I would definitely look at a 40 of 25 balls over a 50 of 45 balls.
20:32I think that is something that…
20:34It is changing.
20:35It is definitely changing in India.
20:38Then we shall see what is changing.
20:40Because in next 10 days, we will get to know…
20:44Or less than 10 days, we will get to know who is actually the real champion of T20.
20:48But you know, that is also there.
20:50I mean, the fact that every year, we have an ICC event.
20:53The ICC event used to come once in four years.
20:57Abhinav, you know, that being a champion used to soak inside your world.
21:03You are playing up against the world champions.
21:05That feeling is gone somehow.
21:07Because ICC at some level was trying to compete with IPL.
21:12ICC obviously fought against IPL at some point of time.
21:15It was then-Chairman Shashank Manohar, who fought his way.
21:19And he said, no.
21:20And other countries didn't want to support IPL.
21:22But today, what IPL is, because of the support they got from other countries.
21:27South Africa, Australia, England.
21:29England initially didn't play IPL.
21:31But now, they have started getting players from England.
21:34So, which is an amazing thing.
21:37The money power is quite remarkable.
21:40But coming back to what we are seeing right now in Indian team.
21:44What else do you think would be inside the minds of the team management?
21:49How can they approach differently to make it really clinical?
21:54Because you are only playing these matches.
21:56I know there won't be any problem in this kind of games.
21:59Only problems we have is when we have two-out die games.
22:03Last time, we were able to get past that semi-final spot.
22:08Enter the final.
22:08And then, we crushed in the final.
22:11So, this time, we are expecting similar conditions like we have in Chennai.
22:15The ball is not coming up in that fashion.
22:19Coming that easily to the bat.
22:22You have seen, we have mostly stroke-makers.
22:24But then, you have Rishabh Pant, who is really showing us the way.
22:27And I want to talk about Rishabh.
22:29Because Avinash is waiting for the ball.
22:31And when you wait for the ball, you can really play well.
22:34He is, rather than rushing to the ball, he is reacting so well to the ball.
22:38Which is hurled at him.
22:39And on a slower weekend, you have to play that waiting game.
22:43And Rishabh is doing that.
22:45He is transferring the weight.
22:46Transfer.
22:47Little footwork.
22:49Going forward.
22:50Coming back.
22:51Rocking back when the ball is a bit short.
22:54He is quite a treat.
22:55And the way he taps the bat.
22:57Bringing in Newton's law.
22:59Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
23:03The speed at which the bat goes up.
23:05It comes down with a much larger and stronger speed.
23:09Rishabh is really lighting up this World Cup.
23:12For India and for people who are watching.
23:15He will bring in some element of excitement when he is on the crease.
23:19Isn't it?
23:20Yeah, definitely.
23:21And we are always on tenterhooks.
23:27What's going to happen on the next delivery which Rishabh Pant is facing.
23:30And that's the beauty of T20 format.
23:33And Rishabh Pant certainly has added a fresh element.
23:37There is a template in the way every Indian batter plays.
23:42But that's not the case with Rishabh Pant.
23:44And even Surya Kumar Yadav.
23:47The way he plays.
23:48He has these outrageous shots in his repertoire.
23:52But Rishabh Pant, every time he is on the pitch.
23:57On the crease.
23:59On strike.
24:00You will always be wondering that.
24:03Okay, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
24:05He plays it well.
24:06He hits it out of the park.
24:08And so does the opposition as well.
24:10He is also pushing them on the back foot.
24:13Always forcing them to go for a plan B.
24:15Because he is the one who is always throwing their plans out of gear.
24:22Definitely, Rishabh Pant is making the difference.
24:25But now, I would want Rishabh Pant to also sort of prove that he can play a long innings in T20.
24:36I mean, the cameos that he is making.
24:39It's just commendable.
24:40But just imagine Dada, if he just stays at the crease and faces like 50 deliveries.
24:47If a batter of Rishabh Pant's calibre faces 50 deliveries, it would also mean that he is
24:52making 120 or 130 odd runs.
24:55And that is the kind of knock I want to see from Rishabh Pant.
24:59Because yes, he is a vitriolic batter.
25:03You never know what will happen on the next ball that he faces.
25:07But if he just stays in the middle, a little longer than he is spending.
25:14I mean, sky is the limit.
25:16There is a sky in the team.
25:17But for Rishabh Pant, it could be sky in the limit.
25:23No, but you know, the best part of the story is that when you want to hit the ball, you can.
25:33There is always a possibility of getting out.
25:36Someone other day told me, he said, you can't get me out.
25:39I said, okay.
25:40A young cricketer said, you can't get me out.
25:45I said, okay, it's possible.
25:46And I told him, I replied back to him.
25:50I said, you also can't get me out.
25:52And he said, how come?
25:53I said, I will not get out.
25:55That's it.
25:55Because if I become a strokeless wonder, obviously, I won't get out.
25:59But if you are playing strokes, you are taking that chances.
26:02And the deal here is to stay there without getting out.
26:05And Rishabh is not scared of getting out.
26:08That generation of cricketers is over.
26:10I remember 2012, when Indian team was storing Australia.
26:17And Rahul Dravid was getting bowled through his bat and pad.
26:21And I wrote an obituary kind of a piece.
26:23I said, over for Rahul Dravid.
26:25But today's generation, a batsman gets out, bowled.
26:28Next bat, he will come and finish you completely.
26:32Destroy you.
26:33And that's the generation we are talking about.
26:35Every day, you just go out there.
26:38Perform.
26:38Delete that performance you have done for your team.
26:43And then move on.
26:44And how fast you can move on will sort of ensure your good days.
26:48And as it is, it is very tough to be consistent in T20.
26:52But that energy, that intent, won't you believe?
26:56I mean, you won't believe that when Rishabh took the first run, he played against Punjab, I think.
27:02First match of the IPL.
27:03And the way he ran.
27:05With a little nudge on the onside.
27:07And the way he ran.
27:08I knew it.
27:09There and then.
27:10I didn't know that he is going to keep wickets.
27:13I knew he has come.
27:14He has arrived.
27:15Rishabh has arrived.
27:16The big stage once again.
27:18And seeing Rishabh Pant has become such an important part.
27:21He was not even a regular keeper in 19 World Cup, in 22, 21.
27:28But team management backing him.
27:29And we are also hearing from a lot of people, Gautam Gambhir, if he becomes the coach,
27:35Rishabh is going to be the man who is going to be the real boss.
27:40And he will start out with T20 captaincy.
27:42Your thoughts, Rishabh Pant, the way he is playing, the way he is carrying India.
27:47Do you see him as a captain of T20 in future, Shakya?
27:51Yes, I do.
27:52I do see him as a potential captain.
27:55There are many.
27:57But the thing about Rishabh that throughout his career has impressed me,
28:02and definitely in the last 3 years,
28:05is that he is actually a big-match player.
28:08He is actually someone who rises to the occasion when it really matters.
28:12He has done it in Test cricket.
28:13We are yet to see that in limited overs.
28:16But this could be that tournament.
28:18And the kind of form he is carrying, this could be that tournament.
28:20We saw that in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21.
28:26He played a brilliant innings against South Africa in the final Test.
28:30Unfortunately, India could not defend 240 and they should have.
28:35But he made a 100 against England in the last Test match of the Test series
28:41when England chased down 370s.
28:43Sometimes, he is an ordinary of control.
28:46But he always plays well in big matches.
28:48And again, we had a discussion about Jasprit Bumrah being a decisive factor.
28:56Rishabh Pant will also be a decisive factor in this tournament.
28:59Because not only because of the way he plays,
29:02but because he is that one person who is fearless as has already been described.
29:07And he doesn't, so far, appear to have that fear of big match.
29:13Big-match fear is not there.
29:16And I am sure he can…
29:17And not fearful of getting out.
29:20He doesn't mind getting out.
29:23He has delivered in big matches.
29:26And I am hopeful this is the moment.
29:30He has an amazing story, the way he has come back from that near-fatal accident.
29:36And this could be a great comeback story.
29:38One of the comeback stories for the ages if he can lead India to…
29:43If India goes on to win the title and he plays a pivotal role in that.
29:47What a story that will be.
29:49So, yeah, I mean, Rishabh Pant, for me, yeah, he is…
29:53Again, also, captaincy material for sure going forward.
29:58I can visualize the way he spoke about it.
30:02Rishabh carrying the trophy.
30:04More than the trophy, he is just taking a victory lap after India would win the T20 World Cup.
30:10And Rishabh would say, oh, this is the best moment of my life.
30:13After what I have gone through a few years ago.
30:16And then I would put the Gabba test as my second most memorable innings of my life.
30:24I can imagine Rishabh doing that.
30:26And he does it so easily.
30:29And he is the only saving grace we have in this team.
30:31And someone who is going to play for India in all formats for the next 10 years, thankfully.
30:36And that's why he is the captain material.
30:38It's not A. N. Rahul because of his fitness concern.
30:42It's not Hardik Pandya because of his fitness concern.
30:44It's not.
30:45Just with Bumrah, who doesn't have that many years like Rishabh has.
30:48Rishabh is the guy who is going to take this generation of cricket forward in all formats.
30:53Fearlessness, technique.
30:55Has got a lot of time.
30:57I mean, look at…
30:57I remember South Africa last time.
31:00Not this.
31:01Previous South African tour, he scored 100.
31:05And everyone struggled.
31:07And in that tour, I think Virat had left captaincy.
31:11And Rishabh had scored 100 in that series, I remember.
31:16Oh my God, he had so much time.
31:19I mean, he could easily make out Virat Kohli batting, making a lot of effort.
31:24And he was playing well also.
31:25But Rishabh was effortless.
31:27And when we do things effortlessly, it becomes quite natural.
31:31And the flow comes to you very naturally.
31:36You don't have to worry.
31:37And that's how Rishabh stands for us right now, in front of us.
31:41Right?
31:42Right, Avinash?
31:43How do you want to see that Rishabh Pant story?
31:49I mean, if India actually ends up winning this tournament, definitely, it would be…
31:53The story of the tournament for India should be Rishabh Pant.
31:58Because, let's be very honest, Dada.
32:01The player who is creating a lot of difference for India.
32:04If we win, it has to be Rishabh Pant.
32:06If we win, it has to be Rishabh Pant.
32:07Sorry.
32:08Yeah.
32:10Let's talk about the 2023 World Cup final.
32:14I mean, we ended up losing because we lacked a player of Rishabh Pant's calibre.
32:19Had it been not like this, we would have easily scored 300.
32:26And even Pat Cummins had agreed that 300 would not have been an easy target to chase.
32:34Of course, we saw what KL Rahul did.
32:37We talked about, we criticised what Surya Kumar Yadav did.
32:41But then, in that game, a player like Rishabh Pant was clearly missed.
32:46In fact, a lot of people were actually started saying,
32:50had it been Dhoni, things would have been different.
32:52We would have ended up scoring a lot, many runs that we actually did.
32:57Because of the fact that MS Dhoni was the man who used to create a lot of difference
33:01in big matches for India.
33:05Yes, we have seen what Rishabh Pant had been doing for India.
33:08Whenever there was a crunch match, be it in the Gaba Test, be it in South Africa,
33:13like you mentioned, be it in the WTC finals, wherever Team India needed him, he was there.
33:19And he actually ended up delivering.
33:21He has this strong mental fortitude and that makes him a special player.
33:27And we needed a special player like Rishabh Pant on that fateful evening on November 19th
33:34at Narendra Modi Stadium.
33:36Unfortunately, we didn't have Rishabh Pant back then.
33:40We are lucky to have Rishabh Pant here.
33:42And hopefully, the entire team just…
33:45I mean, we are all talking about why they should be winning it for…
33:48I mean, there was a big call that Team India should win this World Cup for Virat Kohli.
33:56He scored 50-100 as well.
33:59Now, he has completed a big milestone, surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
34:03Established him as one of the greatest white-ball players the game has ever witnessed.
34:09But… And even now, we have seen people talking about,
34:13okay, let's win it this time for Kohli and Rohit.
34:16Because it's probably their last T20 World Cup.
34:21Could be even their last ICC event in the white-ball format.
34:26But for me, it should be about a player like Rishabh Pant.
34:33Because the way he has come back.
34:35The way he is performing.
34:36The way he is carrying himself.
34:38And we have seen him just mature a lot even in the IPL.
34:45Earlier, we used to see or watch a witty, chirpy Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
34:50Who used to give spade a spade to the likes of Tim Baines and the rest.
34:57But now, we see a much mature Rishabh Pant.
35:01Who is giving some vital suggestions.
35:04The likes of Akshar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are going gaga over Rishabh Pant.
35:09For giving some vital tips from behind the stumps.
35:12Keeping the faith of a captain alive in them.
35:16Even if they are going for runs, not picking up wickets.
35:21So, that speaks volumes about the character this cricketer has developed over the years.
35:29So, definitely, he is matured enough.
35:33He is looking… He is not just a potential.
35:37I think he is the best choice you can have as the captain of the Indian side across all formats, going forward.
35:45Truly so. And what is remarkable is, if you look at Surya, they are well-suited to play on wickets where the ball comes.
35:54But Rishabh is one cricketer of this generation who can play on slow wickets.
35:58He can score runs on wickets where the ball is not coming.
36:01He can, of course, hammer any bowling on a pitch where the ball is coming nicely to the back.
36:06So, he is an all-rounder batter in that way.
36:10Also, I believe, Dada, he is kind of a player…
36:13I mean, the likes of Surya Kumar Yadav or Jasprit Bumrah.
36:19These are the players who should not be burdened with the responsibility of the captains.
36:25Let them play freely.
36:26I mean, if the burden of a captaincy also falls upon their shoulder,
36:31we might not see the same Surya Kumar Yadav that we see.
36:37Take for example, the case of Jasprit Bumrah in that England test.
36:41I mean, he is a different bowler when he plays without any added baggage.
36:46But in that contest, he just looked the mere shadow of himself.
36:50He was hardly picking up wickets.
36:53Was not able to bowl the right lines in the areas.
36:57So, definitely, the pressure of captaincy also tends to do a lot than the pitches
37:03and the conditions with the player's mind.
37:07Your closing thoughts, Shakya, before we end the show?
37:11Yeah.
37:13Like, I feel this tournament…
37:17And we've started with it and saying…
37:19I unfortunately believe there is a fan base in India
37:23and there are also people who write about it as well
37:25that they would be okay if their favourite players make a number of runs
37:32and the team doesn't win.
37:34I hope that comes to an end.
37:35Because I think the way this T20 World Cup is going,
37:42it's more about how you are contributing to the total,
37:46to the team effort than your personal milestones.
37:49And I feel this that even if Rohit and Virat don't end up having
37:56very good tournaments from here forward,
37:57they may recover.
38:00But if India does well, it's all right.
38:03I mean, I would take…
38:04Yeah, absolutely.
38:05I would take a team win over personal achievements.
38:10And I think from 1 to 11, we have a reasonably good side.
38:13Maybe that one spot of Shivam Dubey has to be looked into.
38:18But I hope even Shivam Dubey comes good.
38:21These pitches haven't been easy for batters.
38:24And we have probably found a solution of coping on them.
38:29But let's see.
38:31All the best to our match today.
38:33We could seal our last four births by winning today.
38:36And after that, the tournament starts.
38:38I mean, knockouts is where it all decides what kind of a tournament we will be judged.
38:48No, so the message is quite clear.
38:50Team before self.
38:51No, I mean, just the message is quite clear.
38:54Team before self.
38:55And there is nothing beyond that.
38:57And thanks a lot, Avinash and Shakya for coming and throwing the light.
39:02The essence of playing this game.
39:04It's not about being a batter or a bowler, doing stuff for yourself.
39:10It's about being a match-winner.
39:13The team can… A champion side is a side which has a match-winner in every individual.
39:1911 are match-winners.
39:21Anyone can come and turn it around for his team.
39:24And that's what cricket is all about.
39:25Thanks a lot, guys.
39:27And pitch battle is really picking up a lot of momentum.
39:31Momentum is equal to force into acceleration.
39:35So, we have enough force also and accelerating quite well.
39:39And thanks to Newton's law, cricket…
39:41And every bit of cricket in Newton's law has been used.
39:45It's a science completely.
39:46And then you have the mental side of it.
39:48Cricket is really interesting in many ways.
39:52In many ways.
39:53I mean, not only one particular reason why it's such a wonderful game.
39:57We love it so much.
39:59Thanks a lot, guys.
40:01And keep watching Pitch Battle.
40:03And see you soon.