Dave Houghton Reckons Rishabh Pant Is One Of The Greats Produced By India

Aug 22, 2022 at 4:08 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Dave Houghton Reckons Rishabh Pant Is One Of The Greats Produced By India

Dave Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain may have managed to play just 22 Tests and 63 ODIs but his place in the Hall of Fame is secured.

The current Zimbabwe coach was a great batsman in both formats and is regarded as among the finest along with Andy Flower in terms of his impact on Zimbabwe cricket.

Dave Houghton. (Photo: Twitter)
Dave Houghton. (Photo: Twitter)

Dave Houghton: Rishabh Pant Is One Of The Greats Produced By India And He’s Fantastic To Watch

The 65-year-old was spoken to on the sidelines of the current ODI series played between India and Zimbabwe. The first question was on his thoughts on India’s sensational wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant.

“Well, he is certainly a lot better than I was, particularly as a wicketkeeper. I mean he is a fantastic player to watch,” says Houghton.

Rishabh Pant (BCCI Image)
Rishabh Pant (BCCI Image)

Even though the Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman is not touring Zimbabwe for this series, the head coach of Zimbabwe feels that Rishabh Pant is someone who is going to dominate all formats in the coming years.

“Nowadays, obviously Pant is really well built for the T20 format and the fifty overs but I am sure that he is a great Test player as well.

“He’s got so much innovation, so much power and he looks like he plays with a smile on his face all the time, again one of the greats produced by India,” adds the former Zimbabwe batsman who was the first to score a Test hundred for his country against India in 1992 when they played the inaugural Test.

The richness of Indian cricket in terms of wicket-keeping resources has always fascinated Dave Houghton. He is in awe of Indian cricket’s strength, especially in wicket keeping where they have multiple options someone as KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, and Ishan Kishan and obviously they had in past had someone special like MS Dhoni.

“I think that is the biggest problem India is facing at the international level, how do you pick your best 11? How many people do you play with? Fortunately, you play so much cricket and so many tours that you are able to change your players accordingly,” says Dave Houghton who was named as Zimbabwe’s head coach in the second week of June while replacing former India opener Lalchand Rajput.

Dave Houghton reckoned that sometimes having too many options also creates a different kind of problem for the team management and selectors.

“I think in England this summer you had a Test team playing and a one-day side at the same time and then, of course, you had subsequent tours to the West Indies and so and people have changed places and everyone is getting a fair crack at the game.

“I think the toughest job in India is going to be to pick your final 15 for the world cup because you could pick 50 and then decide to play with the 11 who are good as anybody,” says Dave Houghton who has a wonderful stint with various teams in county cricket in England as well.

Rishabh Pant played some terrific knocks on the tour of England. He smashed 146 and 57 in the rescheduled 5th Test in England. The 24-year-old also hammered an unbeaten 125 in the third ODI to lift India to a series win.

The Indian gloveman has 2123 runs to his name in 31 Tests at an average of 43.32. He has also scored 840 runs in 27 ODIs at an average of 36.52 and 883 runs in 54 T20Is at a strike rate of 126.32 and an average of 23.86.

Dave Houghton Also Praised Indian Regular Coach Rahul Dravid For Bringing Amazing Calmness In The Dressing Room

Dave Houghton also spoke on India’s regular coach Rahul Dravid who too like Dave Houghton has been a great batsman and also done commentary and is now coaching a national team.

“It’s hard to say unless you have actually experienced it but I would imagine If Dravid is anything like he was as a cricketer he would be the most sensible head on the block.

“I am sure he would actually bring some calmness in the change room because we all know particularly in cricket, in the big games’ things can become emotional when things don’t go your way, and I think he will bring an amazing calmness in the change room,” opines Dave Houghton in his admiration for the regular India coach and on his view of great players becoming fine coaches because of the experience.

Rahul Dravid Photo Credit: PTI
Rahul Dravid Photo Credit: PTI

Zimbabwe Cricket selected Dave Houghton as their new head coach on June 14. The former Zimbabwean captain assumed command ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022, which began in July 2022.

The Netherlands and Zimbabwe reached the final of the tournament to qualify for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Hosts Zimbabwe beat the Netherlands by 37 runs in the final to win the tournament.

Lalchand Rajput, the Zimbabwe cricket team’s former coach, was named Technical Director. After the experience concluded his spell with the Afghanistan national team, Zimbabwe hired former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener as their batting coach.

Meanwhile, India has already won the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe by 10 wickets and 5 wickets respectively and is currently batting on 161/2 in 35 overs in the 3rd ODI.

Related Article
Dave Houghton Reckons Rishabh Pant Is One Of The Greats Produced By India
Dave Houghton Reckons Rishabh Pant Is One Of The Greats Produced By India

Aug 22, 2022, 3:53 PM


Zimbabwe Called Up Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani For 3 T20Is Against Afghanistan
Zimbabwe Called Up Opener Tadiwanashe Marumani For 3 T20Is Against Afghanistan

Jun 11, 2022, 2:12 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner