Rishabh Pant's emotional comeback century in India's convincing win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai drew comparisons to the legendary MS Dhoni. Pant's performance ignited discussions about whether he could be considered one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen of all time. However, Pant addressed these comparisons after India's convincing 280-run victory in the series opener.
Concerns arose about Pant's chances of returning to Test cricket after a lengthy absence of over 650 days. His last Test match was also against Bangladesh in December 2022, before a serious car accident forced him off the field. Despite a promising fifty in a Duleep Trophy match earlier in the month, doubts persisted about his form. However, Pant silenced his critics with a remarkable century (109) against Bangladesh in the second innings of the Test, helping India set a challenging target of 515 runs.
Rishabh Pant on comparison with MS Dhoni
Pant's magnificent century was his sixth in Test cricket, equalling Dhoni's record for the most centuries scored by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in the longest format. This achievement quickly ignited comparisons on social media and among experts. However, the 26-year-old made it clear that he will rather focus on his own style than trying to emulate Dhoni.
"This is CSK's home ground. Mahi bhai has played a lot of cricket here. But, for me, like I have said before, I want to be myself. I don't focus on what's being said or what's happening around me. I keep things simple and focus on giving my best. The atmosphere here was amazing, and I really enjoyed it," Pant told the broadcasters after India's win in Chennai Test.
Pant's impressive knock showcased his versatility as a batter. In the early stages, he displayed his defensive skills, carefully leaving balls outside the off stump. However, after lunch, upon receiving guidance from captain Rohit Sharma, Pant shifted his approach to a more aggressive batting style, characterized by a series of boundaries.
"I kept my thought process simple and played according to the situation. They started with spinners on Day 3, but I don't go out with a predetermined way of playing. I knew we had lost three wickets, so I was conscious of not taking too many risks to avoid exposing the tail after Rahul bhai. The pitch was good for batting, and I wanted to make the most of it and score a hundred," he further stated.
"When we went to Lunch, there was talk about a declaration. Rohit Sharma told us he'd give us an hour after the break and that we could score as many as we could. I thought I might even be able to get to 150," Pant concluded.
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