Pravin Amre praises young Rishabh Pant for dream start in Ranji season

Mumbai, Nov 9: Former India batsman Pravin Amre on Wednesday (Nov 9) heaped praise on Delhi youngster Rishabh Pant, saying it is a dream start for him this season.

Rishabh Pant hits fastest hundred in India's first-class cricket history

"Firstly, we (Delhi Daredevils) spotted him in India U-19, the way he (Pant) got a 150 there. Because we (the team) are from Delhi, there is always a thing, we (were) looking (for someone from) Delhi.

A local boy and very exciting talent. After that I actually saw in the DD camp there, where he was batting on the Palam ground," Amre, the Delhi Daredevils batting coach told reporters here.

The 19-year-old keeper-batsman, on November 8 grabbed eyeballs by blazing his way into the record books with a 48-ball century - the quickest by any Indian batsman in first-class cricket. Amre spoke as he launched 'AllRounder' at Ryan International School (ICSE) in suburban Malad this afternoon.

(Delhi's Rishabh Pant hammers 308 off 326 balls, creates record)

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"The kid (Pant) was effortlessly hitting the ball, so sweetly, in fact he looked so graceful, the way he was playing. The sheer power was there and timing was great. When we gave him chance for couple of matches, its always nerves when you start IPL, a big platform, but he looks very confident," Amre, who represented India in 37 ODIs said.

"It's a dream start for (him) this season. He has already scored 700 plus runs with 4 hundreds, which includes one triple hundred. The last one is a special one, getting a hundred in 48 balls," noted Amre.

Pant, a left-handed batsman, plays for Delhi Daredevils.

"He is a very good striker and confident lad and that's very essential for any batsman. This boy has got self belief in him that he can do well at any level. Age is with his side and right now he is batting brilliantly," he added.

"I am sure he is on the radar on selectors," Amre quipped.

"He came and made a statement that like he is a batsman who can hit and thats why he got his place in T20 format first. Anybody plays for Ranji, where you learn. The four day format needs this particular type of innings, which we saw, batting for scoring 300, you need really concentration for that and he did. It is always credible to get 100 in 48 balls," he added.

Pant's magnificent triple hundred against Maharashtra at the Wankhede stadium also earned him praise.

This Ranji Trophy season, the Haridwar-born player scored 117 and 135 against Jharkhand at Thumba, 308 against Maharashtra at Mumbai and 146 versus Assam at Vadodara.

PTI