Rishabh Pant Filled Void Left By MS Dhoni: ‘Taken To Test Cricket Like A Duck To Water’ – News18
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India legend Rahul Dravid has lavished high praise on Rishabh Pant for his performances in Test cricket.
MS Dhoni (left) and Rishabh Pant share a light moment during an IPL match. (BCCI Photo)
Rishabh Pant has taken to Test cricket like “a duck to water” reckons batting legend Rahul Dravid citing his incredible performances during India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia where he starred in team’s historic triumph at The Gabba. And Dravid feels that Pant has done enough to at least fill the void left by the legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni in the longest format.
Dravid though adds that he doesn’t mean that Pant has “replaced” Dhoni who first stormed into the limelight as a big-hitting batter before proving his astute leadership and wicketkeeping skills as well.
Pant was key to India securing a second straight 2-1 Test series win in Australia, scoring 89 runs in the fourth and final match of the tour. He scored 274 runs at an average of 68.50 playing a significant role in depleted India returning home with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“It’s hard to imagine that, after Dhoni left, you felt there might be some time for someone to come in and replace him,” Dravid told Star Sports. “I’m not saying he’s (Pant) replaced him, but certainly in Test cricket, his performances have been absolutely sensational, an incredible performance.”
Dravid termed Pant’s match-winning knock of 89 runs in the successful chase of 329 as “sensational” as India won by three wickets.
“Watching Rishabh there and chasing to get 89 to win that Test match at the Gabba, with everything on the line and such a depleted side, to put in that kind of performance under that kind of pressure — truly sensational… What a special cricketer he’s been. He’s just taken to Test cricket like a duck to water. It’s just phenomenal,” he said.
Pant made his competitive return earlier this year after spending over a year on the sidelines as he recovered from the injuries of a car accident in December 2022. He was part of India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year.
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