Rishabh Pant’s Keeping Biggest Positive In 2nd Chennai Test: Michael Vaughan

Feb 17, 2021 at 12:22 PM

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Rishabh Pant’s Keeping Biggest Positive In 2nd Chennai Test: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan feels Rishabh Pant’s wicketkeeping in the recently concluded second Test against England was India’s biggest positive out of the match, but the former skipper also believes that the 23-year-old has a long way to go before he can be called a good and consistent keeper in the world.

Questions and doubts have been raised about Rishabh Pant’s wicketkeeping skills, but after he took two exceptional catches during England’s first innings and pulled off two brilliant stumpings in the second innings, he proved how much work he’s been putting behind his keeping.

Rishabh Pant was in brilliant form behind the stumps as well. (Photo: BCCI)
Rishabh Pant was in brilliant form behind the stumps as well. (Photo: BCCI)

Michael Vaughan: The Biggest Positive For India Was Rishabh Pant’s Keeping

However, Michael Vaughan reckons one good Test match is not enough and that Rishabh Pant needs to keep doing it more often to be called a good wicketkeeper.

“I will be honest. I think the biggest positive for the Indian team for Rishabh’s keeping. I think that had been a massive question mark over the Indian team,” Michael Vaughan told Cricbuzz.

Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“Can they be the best in the world over a generation? You can’t beat if your wicketkeeper is dropping the ball. That’s a fact. You just can’t. You need to keep a hold of the ball… stumpings, catches. Be very active behind the stumps.”

Ever since Rishabh Pant played the second Test against Australia in Melbourne in December, his batting has escalated to an all-time high with the batsman scoring four half-centuries since then missing 3 tons by a whisker.

Michael Vaughan: One Good Test Match Behind The Stumps Doesn’t Make One A Good Keeper As He’s Got To Do It Again

However, his keeping was far from being a finished product with the youngster guilty of dropping catches in the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane in Australia tour. However, the way Rishabh Pant took his catches in the 2nd Chennai Test was a testament to his hard work, especially the way he responded to Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel on a spinning surface was pretty impressive.

“We know that he’s active because he’s always a little bit chirpy and that’s fine. But you’ve got to be able to catch the ball. His keeping in this game has been very, very good, and that for me has been a massive positive for the Indian team. He needs to continue to work and get better, and catch a majority of the balls that come his way, and do it with better technique,” Michael Vaughan added.

Rishabh Pant BCCI / Sportzpics
Rishabh Pant BCCI / Sportzpics

“I think it’s getting better all the time and he’s probably doing a lot of work on the training ground – he’s still got a long way to become a real, consistent keeper. One good Test match behind the stumps doesn’t make you a good wicketkeeper. He’s got to do it again.”

Rishabh Pant, who has been under severe criticism for his wicketkeeping skills, took 2 brilliant catches as England could manage only 134 in reply to India’s 329 in 1st innings. The keeper’s impressive work behind the stumps followed his form with the bat after he scored 58 not out in India’s first innings.

Rishabh Pant scored 274 runs in 3 Tests in Australia averaging 68.5. He scored 91,11, unbeaten 58, and 8 in the 4 innings against England amassing 168 runs in 4 innings.

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