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'Dhoni himself would want Pant to break his record': Ex-India cricketer makes big prediction about 'unstoppable' Rishabh
The left-handed dasher on Sunday smashed a 28-ball 50, a Test record for an Indian batsman.
There is a method to his madness and seems like Rishabh Pant has cracked the code. He's got the reputation of wearing his heart on his sleeve and Pant again showed why is he currently an indispensable part of the Indian set-up. The left-handed dasher on Sunday smashed a 28-ball 50, a Test record for an Indian batsman.
It was the fastest Test half-century by an Indian as he surpassed legendary Kapil Dev and helped India set Sri Lanka an improbable 447-run target.
Pant hit seven fours and two sixes in his entertaining 28-ball 50 and put on 45 runs with Shreyas Iyer, who dominated after Dinner as he followed up 92 in the first innings with another half-century. Pant's batting onslaught also helped him become the wicketkeeper-batter to score the fastest fifty in Tests, breaking MS Dhoni's record of 34 balls.
Ever since his arrival to the international arena, Pant has been compared with Dhoni. He has big shoes to fill but former India off-spinner Nikhil Chopra believes even Dhoni would be happy seeing Pant break his records. He also predicted Pant to be ‘unstoppable’ moving forward if he continues to play sensible cricket.
"Rishabh Pant was making great use of his feet. I hope that he lives up to at least seventy per cent of his potential. His match-winning ability is such that he can cross all the great wicketkeeper-batters like Adam Gilchrist. Even MS Dhoni himself would want Pant to break his record," said Chopra on the Khelneeti podcast.
"It was good to see Rishabh Pant not repeat the mistake of the first innings. If he continues to play such sensible cricket, he would be unstoppable and that is a good sign for Indian cricket," he further said.
Chopra further also heaped praise on Iyer, who has been in sensational form since his return to the Indian team. Chopra said Iyer had a "clear gameplan", which helped exuberate his confidence.
"A clear gameplan was visible in the way Shreyas Iyer batted. When you step out and defend and make use of the depth of the crease, you put the bowler under pressure. Such pressure gives you a great chance to score runs on such a wicket. So I am really happy to see the way he is batting with confidence and the belief that he has in executing his gameplan," Chopra continued.
Having taken a colossal target, India would look to wrap up the game and the series on Day 3 of the pink-ball Test. India have set Sri Lanka a mammoth target of 447 runs and the tourists have already lost four wickets in the first session.
