Former Australian legend Glenn McGrath has compared India’s wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant with Adam Gilchrist. McGrath stated that Pant reminds him of Gilchrist as he is always looking to score runs.
Pant scored 29 runs from 40 balls in the first innings of the second Test match and added a crucial alliance of 57 runs with Ajinkya Rahane.
Pant didn’t play the first Test match as Wriddhiman Saha was backed by the team management. However, Saha couldn’t grab his opportunity as he returned with scores of nine and four at Adelaide. Thus, Pant made the cut into the final XI of the team.
In fact, the attacking left-hander scored a blistering hundred in the second warm-up match against Australia A at the SCG. Furthermore, he had scored 350 runs in the four Test matches on the previous tour of Australia, including a fine knock of 159 runs at the SCG. Pant had scored his runs with an impressive average of 58.33.
“Rishabh Pant reminds me of Adam Gilchrist as he plays. Always he playing shots and is never afraid to play any shot. If you see them at the crease, they always keep doing something,” McGrath said on the Sony Sports Network.
On the other hand, former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar also heaped praise on Pant. Agarkar believes Pant brings an X-factor to the table and that is why he is backed in the team.
“Glenn just said that he is a bit like Adam Gilchrist. So if he’s got that X-factor why would you not have him in the team. Ok, in this game he’s batted at No. 6 so you’ll always get that from Rishabh Pant. There was bounce on that ball… it was close for him to cut. But you could see how much he’s worked on a pitch against a bowler whom players have to work hard against,” Agarkar said.
There is no doubt that Pant needs to work on his wicket-keeping skills and he is expected to get better with experience. Pant dropped Pat Cummins’ catch on the third day and he will look to improve.
Pant is known for his aggressive batting and he can take the game away from the opposition by getting crucial runs while batting with the tail. Australia are 133-6 and they lead by two runs at the end of third day’s play. Thus, India is in a dominating position and they will look to wrap up the Test match tomorrow.
