Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant surprised everyone when he reverse-flicked pacer Jofra Archer for a six after India were two down within the first four overs in the opening T20I against England on Friday.
In the fourth over, Pant played a reverse flick against Archer on the fifth ball that went over the keepers’ head for six. The shot left everyone surprised and former England skipper Kevin Pietersen termed it as the “greatest shot ever been played in cricket”.
“Holy smokes! Pant has just played the greatest shot that’s ever been played in cricket. Reverse sweeping/lifting Archer with a brand new white ball at 90mph for 6,” Pietersen tweeted.
Interestingly, Pant had played a similar shot in the fourth and final Test against England where he had reverse flicked James Anderson for a six on his way to a match-winning ton.
Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh hailed the “absolutely fearless” shot by Pant.
“This is the new generation !! Absolutely fearless ! Reverse sweep or shot I don’t know what to call it ! But @RishabhPant17 hats off to you to hit a fast bowler like that ! Game on !!” Yuvraj tweeted.
Virat Kohli-led India suffered their first back-to-back defeat in T20Is since November 2019 after all-rounder England registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the hosts in the first T20 International in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Notably, India had last suffered two successive defeats against South Africa and Bangladesh on September 22 and November 3, 2019, while India’s only loss in 2020 came against Australia in the Sydney T20I as Virat Kohli’s men had a fine run in the shortest format of the game in 2020 where they won 10 out of 11 matches.
