Pant lifted India from 80 for 3 to 194 in collaboration with Shreyas Iyer

'There is nothing called natural game' - Rishabh Pant

A 69-ball 71 in the first ODI against West Indies signaled a welcome return to run-scoring form for Rishabh Pant, and he said afterward that playing "according to the situation" was his takeaway from his time in international cricket and that "there is nothing called natural game". On Sunday, Pant batted with some degree of restraint but still scored at a rate of over a run-a-ball, lifting India from 80 for 3 to 194 in collaboration with Shreyas Iyer, who scored 70 in 88 balls. "When we were kids, we would hear that 'play the natural game', but since I have played the international game, I have realized that there is nothing called natural game. You have to play according to the situation and what the team needs. A good player is one who can mold his game according to the situation and the team's demand." Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, among others, have voiced their support for Pant in recent weeks, while Ravi Shastri, speaking to India Today recently urged fans and critics to be patient with the young man.

Hundred at Chennai the Best Knock of My Career: Hetmyer

West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer described his match-winning 139 against India in the first one-dayer at the best knock of his career but said he would have been happier had he finished off the game. "This is my highest score in international cricket, so this would be the best one. It's always nice chasing a score than a set one. Chasing and taking the team home is a much better feeling. Sad that I didn't finish the game, but it's a work in progress for me," Hetmyer said a the post-match press conference. "We just keep it simple because we've played with each other for quite a while now. So, I know his game and he knows mine. So, basically when we're batting together, most of the time, I'm the aggressor and he's the person who sticks around and bats around," said Hetmyer who faced 106 deliveries during his knock.