Young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant might have contributed just 29 runs at no.6 to Team India’s first innings total of 326 against Australia in the ongoing Boxing Day Test but it was enough to impress fast-bowling legend Glenn McGrath and former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar.
After humiliating 8-wicket defeat in the first Day-Night Test in Adelaide, India picked Pant as wicketkeeper-batsman for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over their first-choice wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
Pant has not been in great form with the bat in recent times and even in the IPL 2020, losing his wicket while playing risky shots and he yet again shown his bold attitude in the ongoing Boxing Day Test –where his scores weren’t impressive but the way he showed sparks by hitting two boundaries in an over off Pat Cummins impressed McGrath and Agarkar.
The Aussie legend has heaped praise on Pant, saying the 23-year-old reminds him of Aussie wicketkeeper legend Adam Gilchrist the way he plays his shots without any fear.
McGrath said on the Sony Sports Network on Sunday: “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.”
Meanwhile, Agarkar also agreed with McGrath’s observations while admitting there is a bit of risk factor involved with Pant, saying: “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.”
He continued, “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.”
Pant averages 38.76 in Test cricket and Agarkar believes that he unnecessarily cops criticism in the longest format of the game while calling for constant opportunities for the youngster.
He signed off by saying, “That’s that added responsibility. Perhaps he’s not done much till now... India usually plays six batters but he unnecessarily cops criticism especially in Test cricket. You see how he’s played in Test cricket.
He’s a young player. When you have that sort of ability and potential in someone might as well back him as much as you can. There will be few mistakes along the way but you’ve got to take it because he’ll win you a few games along the way as well.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
