Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has dismissed comparisons between Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni. Ali questioned if we would compare Shubman Gill with Virat Kohli. Pant has played some match-winning knocks in the red-ball version and he also equaled Dhoni’s tally of six centuries when he scored 109 runs in the opening Test match against Bangladesh at Chennai.
While Pant has scored six centuries in only 34 Test matches, Dhoni played 90 Test matches in his career. Dhoni was more known for his heroics in the white-ball format than in the red-ball version of the game.
“Please forgive me. MS Dhoni was a legend, he led India to World Cup wins and ICC Champions Trophy. Rishabh Pant is doing well, let him focus on his game. Will you compare Shubman Gill with Virat Kohli?” said Basit Ali on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik also played down comparisons between MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant.
Karthik said on Cricbuzz, “It’s very unacceptable to say that he’s played 34 Tests and he’s already India’s greatest wicketkeeper batter. Let’s take time, let’s not jump to conclusions but definitely he’s on course for sure and he will finish as India’s greatest ever wicketkeeper.”
“Don’t discount Dhoni’s credentials as a wicketkeeper as well. He not only kept brilliantly, batted and scored runs when it mattered very very well for India but also he led India to a World Test Championship mace which is becoming number 1. So you got to give all that weightage as well when you speak about a player all round,” he added.
Pant will look to continue the good show in the upcoming matches. The second Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Green Park, Kanpur from September 27.
