Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has stated that the media should stop comparing Rishabh Pant with MS Dhoni. Gambhir added Pant can never be MS Dhoni and he needs to be himself to achieve big things. Pant is still young in his career and it is unfair to compare him with legendary MS Dhoni.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that Rishabh Pant still needs to improve his game from wicket-keeping and batting point of view. It is noted that Pant needs to learn how to play according to the match situations and he is expected to get better with experience.

On the other hand, Gambhir feels MS Dhoni was more versatile when he came into the International scene as compared to Rishabh Pant. Gambhir noted just because Pant can hit the big sixes, people have started comparing with the great MS.

“First of all, you have to stop saying that Rishabh Pant is the next MS Dhoni. That is one thing which the media needs to stop doing it. The more the media talks about it, the more Rishabh Pant starts thinking about those chances. He can never be MS Dhoni. He has to be Rishabh Pant,” Gambhir said.

“MS Dhoni probably had so much range when he came on to the international scene. With Rishabh Pant, only because he could hit those big sixes and stuff, people started comparing him with someone like MS Dhoni. Rishabh Pant has a lot to improve, especially from the keeping point of views and from the batting point of view as well,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Pant had a good start to the IPL 2020 as he was instrumental in providing the finishing touches for Delhi Capitals. However, the pugnacious southpaw couldn’t continue the same form. The left-hander has scored 285 runs in 12 matches at an average of 28.5 and a paltry strike rate of 109.61. Pant has failed to time the ball and he has struggled to get going.

Furthermore, Pant is not up to the mark behind the stumps. Thus, the Delhi player has also lost his place from the limited overs side of the Indian team. KL Rahul is now backed as the first choice wicket-keeper batsman of the team and Pant will need to come up with solid performance to regain his place.

Pant hasn’t been able to grab his opportunities and thus he has been left out of the national squad. The left-hander will aim to deliver the goods in the Test series against Australia.