New Delhi: Rishabh Pant is expected to fill the void left by legendary MS Dhoni but he has not been able to make an impact in the white ball format. It is red-ball cricket where he has played a few crucial knocks for his team, despite carrying a reputation of an aggressive batter. As a result, many former cricketers have scrutinised his place in the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.
The former fielding coach of India, R Sridhar spoke to cricket.com and said that Rishabh Pant played a blinder and showed a glimpse of his potential with the bat during the 2020-21 tour of Australia. As a result, he secured his spot in the Test team as India’s No 1 keeper-batter.
Sridhar disclosed the conversation that Rohit Sharma had with Pant just after the match to explain to him what he had achieved with his match-winning knock.
"We were in the team room and Rohit (Sharma) came and he told Rishabh…tujhe pata nahi hai tune kya kiya hai aaj (you don’t know what you have done). And Rishabh was just normal as if he had scored a 90-odd in a hot weather tournament in Delhi," Sridhar told.
"It's good that he has not set the world on fire in white ball cricket, which means there is plenty to come. I can assure you that there is some serious big stuff on the way. We saw what he did in Manchester. If that's any indication, wear your seat belts. Don't worry about what has happened in the past. The future is bright," Sridhar added.
Sridhar also highlighted the similarities between Pant and former India skipper MS Dhoni and said, "I think no one is born with all the skills. Any skill that any person possesses is born out of the situation that he has been in and learned. MS grew up playing with adults and elderly kids. That is where he picked up all his cricketing acumen," Sridhar stated.
"Rishabh has grown up in a similar kind of environment. He grew up playing with big achievers. That is where he picks his cricket smartness from. He is going to be a leader in the future. Once he starts separating his leadership from his batsmanship, then that is entertainment confirmed", he signed off.