IPL 2018: Sourav Ganguly compares Pant's sensational knock to McCullum's heroics in 2008

Very few must have forgotten Brendon McCullum’s whirlwind knock which kick-started the Indian Premier League (IPL) ten years ago in 2008. The heroics of the Kiwi batsman are still fresh in the minds of every cricket fan and it is still rated as one of the best T20 innings in the world. Sourav Ganguly was captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) then and had enjoyed the blitzkrieg by sitting in the dressing room. However, he has now praised Rishabh Pant’s sensational blitz against SRH and has touted as a similar one to which McCullum played.

The youngster was superb while playing for Delhi Daredevils (DD) and single-handedly propelled his team to a gigantic total of 187 from a hopeless position. He simply put an exhibition of some brilliant power-hitting and caught the visitors off-guard. Pant was at his inventive best as he also played a ramp shot over short third-man fielder by standing in his crease and just directing the ball smartly. Though his team lost the game courtesy of some poor bowling from Delhi bowlers, the left-hander won hearts with his innings.

Ganguly tweets

The former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was in awe of Rishabh Pant after watching him cut loose against the best bowling attack o the tournament. He smacked India’s one of the best death bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, for 26 runs in the last over of Delhi innings. The 20-year-old was literally unstoppable which prompted Ganguly to compare his knock with McCullum’s 158 which the Kiwi had scored in the tournament opener of the inaugural season of the IPL.

“Saw McCullum in 2008..rishab pant innings right up there .. what a knock @bcci.@DelhiDaredevils @ParthJindal11,” he tweeted while praising the future prospect of the Indian team. Even Pant was overwhelmed with the special words coming from one of the greatest cricketers in Indian cricket and thanked him for the same. “Thanku sir for such kind words,” he responded to the tweet.

Here’s the thread of the convo:

Saw McCullum in 2008..rishab pant innings right up there .. what a knock @bcci.@DelhiDaredevils @ParthJindal11

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) May 10, 2018

Thanku sir for such kind words

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabPant777) May 11, 2018

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