Not saying Rishabh Pant has replaced MS Dhoni, but in Test cricket his performances have been absolutely sensational: Rahul Dravid
Former India captain and ex-head coach Rahul Dravid has described Rishabh Pant as a special cricketer, who has taken to Test cricket 'like a duck to water'. While stopping short of calling him as MS Dhoni's replacement, Dravid added that Pant has come up with 'absolutely sensational' performances in red-ball cricket.
While Pant has struggled with his consistency in the white-ball formats, he has been exceptional in Test cricket for India. In 38 Test matches, the left-handed batter has scored 2,693 runs at an average of 44.14, with six tons and 14 fifties.
In an interaction with ESPNcricinfo, Dravid hailed Pant the Test cricketer:
"And what a special cricketer he has been. He's just taken to Test cricket like a duck to water. It's just phenomenal. After (MS) Dhoni left, you felt that it might take time for someone to come in and replace him. I'm not saying he's replaced him, but certainly, in Test cricket, his performances have been absolutely sensational."
The legend also shared his thoughts on Pant's iconic unbeaten 89 at The Gabba in the 2020-21 Test against Australia, describing the performance as 'truly sensational'.
"Geez, that's a tough one to beat. I think Rishabh's was an absolutely incredible performance. Watching him there, chasing to get 89 to win that Test in Brisbane, with everything on the line, with such a depleted side. To put in that kind of performance under that kind of pressure - truly sensational," Dravid said.
Set to chase 328 for an unlikely victory at The Gabba, India got home by three wickets in thrilling fashion. Opening the innings, Shubman Gill top-scored with a fluent 91, while Cheteshwar Pujara chipped in with a typically defiant 56 off 211. Pant then took India past the finish line, hitting nine fours and a six in his tremendous knock that came off 138 balls.
Rishabh Pant made an excellent comeback to Test cricket after nearly two years
Having been out of the Test team for nearly two years following his horrific car accident in December 2022, Pant made a brilliant comeback to red-ball cricket during the home series against Bangladesh in September. Batting as if he had never been away from the format, the left-hander scored 39 and 109 in Chennai.
The 27-year-old was also the leading run-getter in the three-match Test series against New Zealand even as Team India suffered a 3-0 home defeat. The keeper-batter scored 261 runs in six innings at an average of 43.50, with a best of 99.