Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has commended India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, claiming he is changing the game. Pant’s fearless batting in the opening Test against England at Headingley made him a talking point. Pant’s performance included scoring centuries in both innings, a record-setting achievement.
Chappell stated, “The beauty is Rishabh gets runs at a very fast rate which gives you time to win cricket matches. His was a phenomenal performance. Some of the shots he played weren’t in the MCC playing manual. He is really reinventing the game as a batsman. With modern technology, the bats are very different and you can play shots which weren’t possible with the old bats. He’s exciting to watch.”
Chappell said, “When I first saw him, he reminded me of Adam Gilchrist…a different sort of player, of course, but…the difference it can make to a team when a wicketkeeper can bat at that level and to score runs quickly. You never quite know what to expect from him from the first ball. At any stage he is likely to jump down the wicket to the fast bowlers or play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect. It keeps the opposition on their toes. He is a match winner (and he) very nearly made the difference in that game.”
During the 1st Test at Headingley, Rishabh Pant displayed exceptional form, becoming the first Asian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. He scored 134 in the first innings, partnering with Shubman Gill, and followed it with another century. Despite India’s loss, Pant’s performances underlined his value as a consistent middle-order batsman, leader, and game-changer in red-ball cricket.