Smiling assassin is a commonly used word in cricket. Mostly, it’s attributed to bowlers who celebrate the dismissal of batters with a genial expression on their face. When people expect them to let out a war cry, they do the opposite and show no sign of aggression. There are not too many players who can be termed smiling assassins, irrespective of their role in the team.
Contemporary cricket has one in Rishabh Pant. He is not a bowler and he smiles all the time. Be it while ‘keeping or batting, no matter the situation of the match, he always maintains a pleasant demeanour. When the chips are down while fielding, he has that expression on his face. When there is a loud appeal against him when he is batting, it’s the same.
Other than Sarfaraz Khan’s belligerent 150, what kept India in the game in the first Test against New Zealand was Pant’s maverick knock of 99. His team is still in the red and if the game takes place on the last day, New Zealand remain the favourites to knock off the 107 runs to win. But, to set them that target after getting all out for 46 and conceding a lead of 356 took some doing.
After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the third day, it was Sarfaraz and Pant, who made this possible. The beginning of the morning session of the fourth day was dominated by the former. Once he completed his maiden Test century, it was Pant all the way. Cracking jokes at the opponents, sharing a laugh with his batting partner and sending the ball soaring over the ropes — he did all of it with that smile on his face.
Mind you, Pant was not fully fit. He had hurt his knee while ‘keeping which kept him off the field a day earlier. Even on the fourth day, he was seen limping while running between the wickets and escaped being run out narrowly on one occasion. The smile, however, never left him, which resulted in roars of applause in the stands. It was the biggest turnout at M Chinnaswamy Stadium for this Test and the crowd erupted each time Pant cut loose.
Not many wicketkeepers have dominated Test matches like Pant has in his still nascent career. When he plays, the game can change in a matter of hours. He challenges normalcy and embraces the unusual. He is an embodiment of everything unorthodox. In an over from Ajaz Patel, he hit two sixes off the first three balls. On the next two, he survived two close leg-before shouts. One was off the inside edge and the other off the outside edge. The last ball was driven uppishly and narrowly evaded long-off before going for a four. Pant was smiling all through this drama.
Cricket as a game needs characters and Pant is one. When players give you stern looks and present a non-committal and serious face, he appears to be your boy next door. He can be laughing in the most tense of moments and yet, get the job done showing complete nonchalance. He hurts the opposition without letting them realise that he is. This endears him to his opponents and teammates alike. He is a player’s player, other than being the fans’ dream character.
In the days of cutthroat competition, this 27-year-old is a rare exception. He plays cricket in a way not many do anymore. Be it playing improbable shots, thinking of things that others can’t imagine, and pulling them off with remarkable consistency, Pant is one of a kind. A seventh Test century eluded him by a run, India may still lose this Test, but he has lifted the sagging spirits of 46 all out in his own and inimitable manner.