Aakash Chopra has labelled Rishabh Pant as the next superstar of Test cricket. He highlighted that the destructive wicketkeeper-batter brings the required attributes to the format.
Rishabh Pant smoked 50 runs off just 31 deliveries in the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. He brought up his fifty off just 28 balls and broke the great Kapil Dev’s Indian record for the fastest half-century (30 balls) in Test cricket in the process.
Aakash Chopra Would Go With Rishabh Pant As His Player Of The Day
India was nine wickets away from a 2-0 series victory with Sri Lanka reaching 28 for one at the close of play on day two, chasing an improbable target of 447 and with three days still remaining. Shreyas Iyer top-scored again for India with a knock of 67, while Rishabh Pant brought up the fastest Test fifty by an Indian off just 28 balls.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra showered huge praise on Pant, saying: “My Player of the Day, I am going to go with Rishabh Pant. I am talking about him because he is the next superstar of Test cricket. Who advertises Test cricket the best, one who brings excitement, anticipation and entertainment, and Rishabh Pant brings all these things together.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Rishabh Pant was not the only player to break one of Kapil Dev’s records. Ravichandran Ashwin became India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in the last match, surpassing the legendary pacer’s tally of 434 scalps.
Aakash Chopra elaborated: “When he came to bat, he broke India’s record and Kapil Paaji might also be thinking why the kids are after his records only. Ravichandran Ashwin went ahead in the last match and here Sir had the 30-ball record of the fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket and the guy scored it in 28 balls.”
Rishabh Pant smashed seven fours and two sixes during his innings. He was eventually caught and bowled by Praveen Jayawickrama while going for another big shot. Sri Lankan spinner Praveen Jayawickrama picked up crucial wickets to dismantle India’s middle order and he finished with figures of 4/78, while Lasith Embuldeniya chipped in with three wickets.
Aakash Chopra: Rishabh Pant An Exiting Talent That Is Taking Test Cricket Forward
Aakash Chopra highlighted that Rishabh Pant was not inhibited in his stroke-play despite the majority of fielders patrolling the boundary line.
He explained: “He is a different guy. He generously hits fours and sixes, even if you keep fielders in the deep. The philosophy is clear that you cannot keep fielders amongst the spectators. He has the app to covert spectators into fielders.”
The 44-year-old added that Rishabh Pant’s propensity to play the big shots makes Test cricket exciting.
Chopra observed: “He batted very well, got out in the end for sure, but he is that exciting talent that is taking Test cricket forward because till the time he is at the crease, there is no end to the fours and sixes.”
However, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that he could have also gone with Jasprit Bumrah as his Player of the Day. The Indian pacer picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in a Test match on home soil.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had resumed on 86/6 overnight but their resistance lasted only 27 minutes as Jasprit Bumrah (5/24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/30) cleaned up the tail to give the hosts a 143-run advantage before the second innings. Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spells gave him his eighth five-wicket haul but his first on home soil on a pitch that is heavily favouring the spinners.