Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman and national selector Kiran More is optimistic that Rishabh Pant will do a good job as a wicket-keeper batsman in India.
Pant had a successful tour of Australia as he top-scored with 274 runs in the three-Test matches he played.
Pant scored 97 runs in the Sydney Test match and then played a match-winning knock of 89 runs in the second innings of the Gabba Test match. Thus, Pant must have received a lot of confidence after playing a decisive knock in the final Test match.
The combative wicket-keeper batsman has been under scrutiny in the last 18 months but he was able to deliver in Australia. There is no doubt that Pant needs to improve his wicket-keeping skills, especially while standing up to the spinners but he is expected to get better with more experience.
Pant is often compared with MS Dhoni and Wriddhiman Saha, which is a tad unfair on the youngster as he is only 23 years old.
“Rishabh will do a good job. He will make a few mistakes, no doubt. He is 23. You are comparing a 23-year-old with a 36-year-old. Saha has more experience, he has less. When Rishabh learns with experience, he will become top wicketkeeper-batsman,” Kiran More told IANS.
More added that Pant will enjoy the challenge of keeping the wickets in the Indian conditions as the wicket-keeper is always in the game and gets a lot of chances.
“I think he (Rishabh) will enjoy keeping wickets [in India] more. It is challenging, but on pitches supporting turn, I always enjoyed keeping wickets. You are always in the game. You get a lot of opportunities also. You might miss a couple, but you will always get chances whereas, on flatter wickets, it is very difficult to keep wickets because hardly any ball comes to you. As far as your concentration is concerned, you are always on the ball,” Kiran More added.
Rishabh Pant has impressed with his whirlwind batting but he will look to improve his wicket-keeping. Pant brings an X-factor to the table with his blistering batting and he will aim to keep his good form.
Pant is expected to be part of the playing XI for the first Test match against England after his great show in Australia. The first Test match will begin on February 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
