Former India coach Greg Chappell believes Rishabh Pant is changing the game with his unconventional yet effective batting style. Chappell emphasized Pant's match-winning capabilities, recalling his near game-changing performance at Headingley.
Despite India's loss in the Headingley Test, Pant's two centuries demonstrated his ability to redefine a game.
Chappell highlighted the rapid pace at which Pant scores, giving his team more time to secure victories. "His was a phenomenal performance. Some of the shots that he played probably weren't in the MCC coaching manual when I last looked at it. He is reinventing the game as a batsman," Chappell stated, praising the Indian wicketkeeper.
Pant has achieved a milestone, becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter, following Andy Flower, to score a century in both innings of a Test match.
Chappell noted the impact of modern technology and updated bats, enabling shots previously impossible. He further added, "But man, he's exciting to watch. You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He's likely to jump down the wicket to the fast bowlers, or he'll play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect, so it keeps the opposition on their toes." Chappell made these remarks at a promotional event in Mumbai on Wednesday, June 25th.
Chappell, a highly respected former Australian batter, drew comparisons between Pant and another prominent wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist.
He expressed his admiration, stating, "What an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your team. When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist. You know the difference that it can make to a team to have a wicketkeeper that can bat at that level and score runs quickly."
Shubman Gill's Captaincy Debut
Chappell also commented on Shubman Gill's performance as captain. He believes Gill had a promising start and is expected to improve with experience. "It was a terrific Test match. Sadly, India didn't finish up on the correct side, but there were a lot of good things that they did. Shubman Gill had a great start to his career as a Test match captain."
He continued, "As a player, maybe the result didn't go the right way, but conditions were probably better for him on the last day than they were at any other stage in the Test match. So he will have learned a lot from that. The Indian think tank will have learned a lot from what happened in the Test match. He will only get better and better as a captain. Had the team taken a few more catches and, maybe, if the tail had wagged a bit stronger in both innings, the result could have been very different. But I think there are four Test matches to go. Let's wait and see, but I think he made a very good start as captain."
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