IND vs BAN: Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist has lauded India’s star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and said that he plays more aggressive cricket than he did. It should be noted here that Pant has been compared with Gilchrist multiple times due to his aggressive batting in the longest format.
He returned to the Test squad for the two-match Test series against the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side, where the series opener is currently being held at the Chepauk stadium. He had scored a gritty knock of 39 runs during the first innings after the team suffered a batting collapse. Talking about his batting, Gilchrist reckoned that he is a world-class player as he can perform brilliantly under pressure.
“I reckon he attacks a bit more than I did. I played an aggressive brand at that time, but Rishabh, he looks fearless. What I do like is that he occasionally puts a foot on the brake and absorbs a bit of pressure. So he’s a class act,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying on Cricket.com.
He also lauded Pant for entertaining the fans in the longest format and that he is ready to splash money to watch him play.
“He is, what you say, bums on seats and people pay money well and truly. I would happily pay money to watch him play cricket. So that’s a great quality to have, I think, if people are acknowledging in that manner because he gets the results, he’s a winner and a survivor, as we know. He’s all class in everything he does. He’s good fun, he’s got the humor. He knows how to go about a very serious business in a fun way,” he concluded.
Pant’s Test career so far
He has scored 2322 runs after playing in 34 Test matches at an average of 43.81 and a staggering strike rate of 73.73, which also includes five centuries and 11 half-centuries. He also scored a hundred in his debut Test series against England, Australia, and South Africa. He played a huge role in helping India win their second consecutive Test series against Australia as he scored a gritty knock of 89 runs on the fifth day in Gabba and led the team across the line.
As the Men in Blue would be going to Australia once again for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy this year, there are high chances that Pant would make it to the team as they will aim to win the series for the third consecutive time in Australia.
