Aakash Chopra has pointed out that Rishabh Pant instills fear in the opposition spinners even on turning tracks. Rishabh Pant played swashbuckling knocks all three times he batted in the Test series against Sri Lanka.
The wicketkeeper-batter was deservedly chosen as the Player of the Series for his dominant display with the bat.
Aakash Chopra Reckons Opposition Spinners Are Scared Of Bowling To Rishabh Pant Even On A Turning Pitch
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra reflected on the positives for Team India from the Sri Lanka series.
He was effusive in his praise for Rishabh Pant, saying: “One important thing is that Dimuth Karunaratne scored a century but the bowler was not scared of him, a spinner is scared of bowling to Rishabh Pant even on a turning pitch, it is an absolute dustbowl but you are slightly afraid while bowling to him.”
The former India cricketer highlighted that the opposition is always worried when Rishabh Pant is at the crease.
Aakash Chopra elaborated: “If someone generates fear in the opposition, that guy is Rishabh Pant. He is a very different sort of player, who brings a lot of confidence and the opposition feels his presence.”
Rishabh Pant’s 185 runs in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka came at a strike rate of 120.12. He scored 128 of his runs in boundaries, which included 23 fours and six maximums. Batting in the second innings of the second India-Sri Lanka Test, Rishabh Pant smashed his fifty off just 28 deliveries, hitting seven fours and two sixes. Kapil Dev had taken two more deliveries to score his fifty in the 1982 Test against Pakistan in Karachi.
Aakash Chopra: Rishabh Pant Plays Tests As If He Was Born To Play The Format
Aakash Chopra added that Rishabh Pant’s batting style gives the impression that he will be more successful in white-ball cricket but it’s just the opposite. He averages only 24.39 in T20Is and 32.5 in ODIs in stark contrast to his Test average of 40.85. He has amassed 1920 runs in 30 Tests.
He observed: “He is once again stamping his authority and that’s beautiful about Pant. When you see his batting you feel that he would be playing T20 extremely well, will be decent in ODIs, and might be struggling a little in Test cricket because he plays very aggressively.”
However, the reputed commentator pointed out that the destructive wicketkeeper-batter has been more at home in the game’s longest format.
Aakash Chopra stated: “But it is totally the opposite for him. He plays Tests as if he was born to play the format. He is alright in ODIs and T20s but he is an amazing player. He got the Player of the Series award also here.”
While questioning what would have happened had Rishabh Pant come during MS Dhoni‘s era, Aakash Chopra concluded by predicting that the 24-year-old will become the most successful wicketkeeper-batter in the history of Indian Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant was dismissed on 96 off 97 balls on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. He also scored a brisk 39 off 26 balls in the first innings of the 2nd Test and 50 off 31 balls in the 2nd innings and thus accumulated 185 runs averaging 61.67 in the series.
He broke the legendary Kapil Dev’s 40-year-old record of fastest Test fifty by an Indian on the 2nd day of the Day/Night match against Sri Lanka.