Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes Ishan Kishan has improved significantly and is closing the gap on Rishabh Pant. He also said Pant needs to raise his game across formats, with Dhruv Jurel emerging as another wicketkeeping option for India.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer said Kishan has taken his game to another level. He recalled that Pant was previously ahead of Kishan but believes the difference between the two players has reduced.
Kishan is currently part of India’s white-ball teams whereas Pant is India’s first choice wicket-keeper batter in the red-ball version. Pant has been ruled out of the India’s A team tour of New Zealand with a left side strain.
Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “I would say Ishan Kishan, who has taken his game to a much higher level. At one point, it felt like Rishabh Pant was well ahead of Ishan Kishan. But now, it seems Ishan is steadily closing that gap. So, I feel this season will be very important for Rishabh Pant, whether it is the Ranji Trophy, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the IPL. I think he will have to elevate his game. The gap is gradually narrowing, especially with Dhruv Jurel also in the mix.”
Jaffer praised Ishan Kishan for maintaining consistency across all formats. Kishan recently scored 270 runs in the Duleep Trophy final while leading East Zone.
“Ishan Kishan has become so consistent across formats that, honestly, you don’t see many wicketkeeper-batters ahead of him at the moment. KL Rahul is keeping wickets in ODIs, but Ishan is someone you can also play purely as a batter.”
The former domestic giant rated Rishabh Pant as the best Indian wicket-keeper in Test cricket. Pant has played some mind-blowing knocks in his young Test career.
“You cannot put Rishabh Pant behind the others. He has played series-defining and match-winning innings on several occasions. He has been dismissed in the 90s so many times that I feel he might have scored another 10-15 centuries by now otherwise.“I think Rishabh Pant has been outstanding in such a short career. The kind of innings he has played is something I have rarely seen from anyone. We have obviously seen Adam Gilchrist do it, but after him, I don’t think many players have produced such outstanding innings in such a short period,” he added.
Pant should be in action in the two-match Test series against New Zealand if he recovers from his injury.
