Mohammed Kaif lauds Rishabh Pant, says he has almost reached the same level as MS Dhoni

Former Indian batter Mohammed Kaif has showered praise on Rishabh Pant for his consistent performances and said the wicket-keeper has almost reached the same level as former Indian captain MS Dhoni. 

Pant has been picked in India’s Champions Trophy squad ahead of Sanju Samson and he is expected to be the second-choice wicket-keeper after KL Rahul.

Rishabh Pant, who has not been picked for England T20Is, recently scored 255 runs in five Test matches against Australia at an average of 28.33. 

Mohammed Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “He [Rishabh Pant] is a big match-winner in Tests. Who can forget his knock at the Gabba and the hundred in South Africa? He performs well in overseas conditions. He is a good wicketkeeper. Rishabh Pant is a better wicketkeeper than Sanju Samson; he has almost reached the same level as MS Dhoni.”

Kaif, who played a match-winning knock of 87 runs in the Natwest Trophy final against England, said Samson has gone ahead of Pant in the white-ball formats.

“Sanju Samson has gone ahead. You have to understand this. With Rishabh Pant, people have their emotions attached.”

Kaif added someone needs to tell Rishabh Pant that his white-ball stats are not great. Pant has scored 1209 runs in 76 T20Is at an average of 23.25 whereas the pugnacious batter has scored 871 runs in 31 ODI matches at an average of 33.5.

“Rishabh Pant needs to recognize the reality. If someone tells him ‘wrong things are being done with you’, they are not telling the right things. Rishabh Pant should stay away from such friends.”

“Someone needs to tell him that his white-ball stats are not that great. Sanju Samson has genuinely earned that chance to go to the Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant needs to work hard,” he added.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.