'Never easy to come in and fill...': Ricky Ponting's straightforward take on Rishabh Pant's captaincy after India 'lost a Test match a few days before'

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who also worked closely with Rishabh Pant in the Indian Premier League (IPL) reckons that the keeper-batter’s experience will come into play in his role as a skipper as he will lead the Men in Blue during the second Test match against South Africa at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.

Pant will lead India as the regular captain. Shubman Gill suffered a neck injury in the first Test match in Kolkata, which forced him to miss the second Test of the Freedom Trophy.

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Ricky Ponting on Pant's captaincy

Ponting, who was part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) as head coach when Rishabh Pant used to lead the side, reckons that it would be challenging for the 28-year-old wicketkeeper batter to lead, considering India's loss in the last Test match.

“It's never easy to come in and fill in for someone as a stopgap captain, especially when you've just lost a Test match a few days before,” Ponting said, speaking to Sanjana Ganesan, in the latest edition of the ICC Review.

Rishabh is a reasonably experienced Test match player now though as well. I think being a wicket keeper probably helps to see the way that the game is evolving and what's happening in the game.

“He has done at IPL level now for the last few years, obviously done it in Delhi (Capitals) before that. I think he'll handle it fine.”

Rishabh Pant's take on leading India in a Test

This will be the first time that Rishabh Pant will lead India in a Test match. Ahead of his first Test assignment, Pant said that a one-off Test isn't the scenario that he wanted, he is still very proud to be handed the opportunity of leading the Indian team in the format.

"A one-off Test is not the ideal scenario for a captain, but I'm thankful to the BCCI for giving me this opportunity. Leading your country in a Test is the proudest moment for a player," Pant said at the pre-match press conference.

The second Test match is crucial for India to save the series defeat at home because South Africa are currently leading 1-0 in the two-Test match series. The hosts had failed to chase down the 124-run target in the first Test at Eden Gardens and had lost by a 30-run margin.