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Dream comes true for the Delhi batsman

[caption id="attachment_33356" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Pant has grabbed attention this Ranji Trophy season in much the same way. Image Source: Facebook[/caption] Internet Desk: He has a first-class triple-hundred to his name. His IPL 2016 contract was worth Rs 1.9 crore (approximately US$277,000). He has scored one of the fastest first-class centuries by an Indian. He is only 19 years old. Rishabh Pant, born in Roorkee in the hilly north Indian state of Uttarakhand, rose to prominence at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year, with two innings in particular: an 18-ball half-century against Nepal, and a blistering century in the quarter-final against Namibia. Pant has grabbed attention this Ranji Trophy season in much the same way. In October, he scored a belligerent 308 off 326 balls against Maharashtra, and then added his name to the record books with a 48-ball hundred against Jharkhand, one of the fastest first-class centuries by an Indian. His blistering batting display inspired the selectors to give him a chance in the T-20 series against England which undoubtedly is the biggest break of his life so far. When contacted via phone Pant said, "I dedicate everything i have done so far to my coach Tarak Sinha, he has groomed me since childhood. I am also indebted to Rahul Dravid Sir who during the camp in Kolkata before the U-19 World cup taught me how to be mentally strong during match situations. I am happy to have his guidance at the right time." Rishabh moved around from city to city in his early teens to make a name for himself. He switched bases from Roorkee to Delhi to Rajasthan, then returned to Delhi, and was even thrown out of an academy once. A few years down the road, he opened the batting for India in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, smashed a record-breaking fifty against Nepal and followed it up with a century against Namibia to help India qualify for the semi-finals. Regarding the call in the Indian team Rishabh said,"Well I don't know whether I will get a chance to play in the first eleven but I feel very lucky and happy to share the same dressing room with Virat Kohli whom I have admired since childhood, meeting MS Dhoni whom I admire a lot and after Sachin Tendulkar the prolific match winner Anil Kumble, I am so anxious to meet them and share the dressing room with them." In the last year and a half, he has moved swiftly from being an unknown to a contender for the India wicket-keeper's job. At this young age Rishabh Pant has gathered many admirers too. Among them leading the herd is India's Test Wicket-Keeper Wriddhiman saha. During Wriddhi's injury during the England Test series when the selectors asked for his suggestion about a probable replacement sources say he suggested the name of Rishabh Pant. Now it is to be seen how well Rishabh capitalises his call to the Indian senior team if he gets a chance to debut against England. There was good news for Bengal cricketer Ashok Dinda who took 39 wickets in 7 Ranji Trophy matches this season. He was selected in the second practice game against England for India A team. Although the player himself was not too enthusiastic about the news as when xtratime.in contacted him the pacer refused to make any comments on his inclusion.