Rishabh Pant was the leading run-scorer for India in recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy
Former Australian skipper and 2007 and 2015 World Cup winner, Michael Clarke, heaped praise for Rishabh Pant after his knock of 89* that helped India seal the Border-Gavaskar trophy by winning the fourth and final Test at Gabba, Brisbane.
Clarke further said that Pant has got the batting style of an MS Dhoni or Adam Gilchrist.
After missing the first Test at Adelaide, Rishabh Pant was drafted into the Indian XI to fortify their batting strength. The 23-year-old made an immediate impact as he scored a quick-fire 30 in a momentum-changing innings in Melbourne where India registered a stunning 8-wicket victory after suffering a batting debacle at Adelaide.
The Indian wicket-keeper batsman continued to impress as in the third Test-match at SCG, where Team India registered a famous draw, Rishabh pant took charge against the lethal Australian attack and smashed 97 off 118 giving India unlikely hope of winning as the visitors were chasing a mammoth target of 407.
Rishabh Pant, 23, stole the show in the series decider at Gabba, Brisbane as the former notched up unbeaten 89 runs off 138 deliveries that helped visitors gun down Australia’s streak of being undefeated at the venue since 1988 and seal the series by 2-1 as India chased the mammoth total of 328 runs.
Michael Clarke revealed that he has been observing Pant for quite some time and said that he is nothing less than an absolute superstar.
"I have seen more of Rishabh Pant through commentating in the IPL. I always thought he is a superstar. I think probably India went a little bit safer in the first Test match, by picking their best keeper. Michael Clarke told sports today.
Michael Clarke, 39, feels that playing Rishabh pant is worth a risk and said that he has got MS Dhoni or Adam Gilchrist in his batting style.
"But again, someone like Rishabh Pant, he has got to be playing. It's worth a risk, yes, he might drop a couple of catches but he is going to win games for that team. He has got MS Dhoni in him in his batting style or Adam Gilchrist in his batting style. Absolute superstar!" he said.
With his 274 runs, Rishabh Pant was the highest run-scorer for India in the fourth-match Test series. The former also broke MS Dhoni's record to become the fastest India wicketkeeper-batsman to score 1.000 Test runs.
(Sports Today Inputs)