But the challenge was to follow up on his blitzkrieg in Australia with similar performances at home.
In India, his other skill, keeping, was also going to be tested on tracks that offered a lot of turn. Ravichandran Ashwin, the master, was going to test his skill and so was the accurate Axar Patel.
Thankfully, at the end of it all, Pant came out unscathed. His reputation as a keeper has only enhanced because he has been swift and almost Dhoniesque while dealing with the spinners. He has been able to move quickly to collect the ball and take catches, effect stumpings at break neck speed which has enabled the spinners to emerge on top. Even with the seamers he has revelled in standing back both in Australia and for a brief while at home as well.
His match-turning innings in the final Test coupled with his other efforts at home against England showed that he is a man who can adapt with the changing surfaces. In fact it is a compliment to the ability of Pant that Joe Root, the England…