Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has stated that Rishabh Pant’s engaging and assertive style of play is “reinventing the game”. Notably, Pant is coming off two centuries in the opening Test of the five-match series with England.
Pant’s knocks of 134 (178) and 118 (140) in India’s first and second innings, respectively, were key contributors in the team’s ability to record competitive scores. However, the visitors were unable to win the match, losing by five wickets.
“The beauty is that Rishabh scores runs quickly, giving you enough time to win cricket matches. He gave a fantastic performance. Some of the shots he attempted were not in the MCC playing manual. He is truly redefining the game as a batter. Modern technology has made bats significantly different, allowing you to play shots that were before impossible. “He’s exciting to watch,” Chappell said, as reported by India Today.
You never know what to anticipate from him after the first ball: Greg Chappell on Rishabh Pant.
Chappell went on to draw parallels between Pant and Adam Gilchrist. The acclaimed analyst also attributed Pant’s unconventional attitude to him being a match winner for his team.
“When I first saw him, I was reminded of Adam Gilchrist. A different type of player, of course, but what a difference it can make for a side when a wicketkeeper can bat at that level and score runs rapidly. You never know what to expect from him after the first ball. At any point, he is liable to jump down the wicket to the quick bowlers or play the falling ramp shot. You never really know what to anticipate. It keeps the opponents on their toes. “He is a match-winner (and) almost made the difference in that game,” Chappell said.
Pant’s courageous exploits propelled him above Dhoni’s six Test hundreds to lead the rankings with eight, becoming him India’s most prolific wicketkeeper-batsman. However, his outstanding performance was insufficient as the hosts successfully chased down 371 in the fourth innings to grab a 1-0 lead.
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