Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell reckons India will miss counter-attacker Rishabh Pant in the upcoming Test series against Australia. Pant has been a consistent performer for India in the red-ball version but he is currently recovering after a fatal accident.

The southpaw has amassed 2271 runs in 31 Test matches at an average of 43.67 and a strike rate of 73.61. Pant has the skills to turn the match on its head with his blistering batting and his absence will be a massive blow for the home team.

The left-hander has scored 624 runs in seven Test matches against Australia at an impressive average of 62.40. Pant scored a match-saving knock of 97 runs in the 2018-19 tour and also smashed an unbeaten knock of 159 against Australia. The pugnacious batter also scored an unbeaten match-winning knock of 89 runs in the historic Gabba Test match in 2020-21.

In the absence of Rishabh Pant, it will be interesting to note who will get the nod between KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan in the final XI.

“India are really going to really miss Rishabh Pant. The Australians will be happy. He is a counterattacker, the guy who keeps you awake are guys who score quickly and changes the game in one session. Pant was one such player,” Chappell said during an interaction organized by Star Sports.

On the other hand, Chappelli, as he is famously known, added Australia should not pick Ashton Agar just for the sake of it and they should look at wicket-taking options.

“Australia should not get carried away by left and right combination. India has got one in Ashwin and Jadeja who are both very good bowlers. Agar is a guy, who averages 40. If he is picked for few runs down the order, there would be a temptation to play him as Cameron Green can’t bowl.

“But that theory is rubbish,” said Chappell. “If Agar is not among your two best spinners, then don’t pick him. Bowlers are there to pick wickets. It is up to batters to get runs.”

The first Test match starts on Thursday in Nagpur.