Rishabh Pant Reckons It’s Hard to Fill in MS Dhoni’s ‘Shoes’
Jul 27, 2019 at 11:33 AM
Former Team India skipper MS Dhoni is at the fag end of his illustrious career. The 38-year-old Dhoni, who had recently participated in the ICC World Cup 2019, has made himself unavailable for impending India’s Windies tour. Thus, young and promising wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will don gloves in the impending limited-overs series on the Caribbean Shores.
Meanwhile, selectors have already chalked out a plan that Delhi-based batsman Pant is India’s obvious choice for doing his job behind the stumps, particularly in the limited-overs leg.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old southpaw who replaced injured Shikhar Dhawan at the recently-held World Cup had reiterated that it wouldn’t be easy to fill in Dhoni’s shoes. However, he stressed that he is solely focusing on his game to make amends at the earliest.
Pant backs his game:
In the recent past, Dhoni had been seen providing inputs to Pant on and off-the-field. He has set his eyes on learning by doing process with Dhoni ready to help his successor.
“I know those are big shoes to fill, but if I start thinking about it there will be a problem. Right now, I am not thinking about what people say. I am just focusing on what I have to do. I just want to do well for my country. That’s the only thing I am focusing on. I take the challenge positively. Now I have to see what I can learn, and what I can do to improve,” Pant told HT.
Earlier, selectors have backed Pant, who is known for his aggressive brand of cricket. Despite playing some rash shots at the World Cup, Pant is optimistic that he will improve with his game.
The exciting batsman Pant had impressed selectors during his Under-19 stint. The promising batsman might need to work on his wicket-keeping, but he has proved his mettle in the test set-up by slamming a hundred in England and Australia respectively.
Pant hails Dhoni for his support:
Recently, Pant had been into the scheme of things with Dhoni at the twilight of his career after making his debut in 2004.
Also, Pant had credited Dhoni for backing him. He is keen to learn from his seniors. Pant concluded by saying that Dhoni has been an inspiration who had done outstandingly well in challenging times.
“The way he reads the game, that is the first thing. Then, he is always very calm in pressure situations. There are many things to learn from him. And off the field, he is always very helpful too. I look to always keep learning from the seniors,” Pant stated.
With age on Pant’s side, the Caribbean series becomes altogether essential for him, because Dhoni will train in Kashmir with Victor Forces as his two-month proposal has finally materialised after a prolonged gap.
Meanwhile, with series comprised of three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests, which will begin on August 3 in Florida, all eyes will be on Pant, who is being groomed for the 2023 World Cup.