As a destructive batter for the Indian cricket team, Rishabh Pant has made a name for himself regardless of format. Currently, there are few batters more dangerous than Pant in the world and his unconventional shots along with a positive mindset have mainly contributed to this. As a testament to his talent though, he has received praises from cricketers all around the globe. Nonetheless, there are times whereby he has been haunted by shot selections as well as faced major criticisms regarding the way he approaches some situations. Bazball recently got popularized in Test cricket and it was asked from Pant during this context about it and he gave an amusing response
Tanmay Bhat asked him if he knows how to play safe during an interaction on YouTube, to which Pant quickly gave out a funny reply that has gone viral on various social media platforms concerning Bazball.
“Abhi Bazball dekh rahe ho toh maza aa raha hai. Jab mein pehle kar raha tha toh acha nahi lag raha tha kya?” (When you see Bazball, you enjoy it. But, didn’t you like it when I had done it before?)
However, former Indian team captain Sourav Ganguly says Rishabh Pant is headed for greatness if he keeps playing like this but in shorter formats of the game, he also has to improve his performances.
On September 19, Pant makes his comeback into Test matches after a life-threatening car accident that occurred in December 2022. He is expected to start the first Test against Bangladesh that will take place in Chennai.
In terms of T20s and ODIs since returning from this year’s accident, Pant has shown good performance.
“I see Rishabh Pant as one of the greatest Test batsmen for our country. I am not taken aback by his coming back into the side; he will continue representing India in the longer format,” said Ganguly at a promotional event held here.
“If he maintains such displays, he’ll become an all-time great in Tests. In comparison, I think he should work on improving his lesser versions of crickets. Given his aptitude, I have confidence that with time he’ll emerge as one among the finest.” The selectors from India have decided to allow Mohammed Shami more recovery time after undergoing ankle surgery before calling Yash Dayal (an uncapped left-arm pacer) and Akash Deep (an uncapped right-arm pacer). And two main pacers included in the squad are Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
“I know Mohammed Shami is absent because of injury, but since India will be in Australia soon, he will be back very soon. It still feels like a very good attack,” Ganguly stated.
“In India you will experience more spin. In Chennai you will see more bounce. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar and Kuldeep are presently the four best spinners in the world – it won’t be easy. However, when you play in India the bowlers have so much more power to influence the game. But I believe that India has a very good team.”
“I am looking forward to their tour Austrlalia; this for me will be the biggest test for the squad. Then these two tours that are most important honestly are the July tour in England. There is no doubt that with Bumrah and Siraj and when Shami resumes playing the fast bowling department will be strong.”
