'Rishabh Pant can definitely become a better wicketkeeper-batter than MS Dhoni': Ex-India Test opener makes huge claim
Rishabh Pant, who started off his international career on the shadows of former India captain MS Dhoni, has been a key player for the team in any format, also making him a fans' favourite.
Rishabh Pant has emerged to be one of the finest talent in the current Indian cricket setup. The young wicketkeeper-batter, who started off his international career on the shadows of former India captain MS Dhoni, has been a key player for the team in any format, also making him a fans' favourite.
MS Dhoni, captain of Chennai Super Kings and Rishabh Pant, captain of Delhi Capitals. (PTI/File Photo)
The 24-year-old was once again at his best in the recently-concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, which India won 2-0. Pant scored 185 runs in the two matches and inflicted eight dismissals in total.
After witnessing Pant's incredible rise in the international circuit, several ex-cricketers have heaped praises for the 24-year-old with few even claiming that he could become a better wicketkeeper-batter than his predecessor MSD, who already has etched his name in the cricket community with his record-breaking feats.
Addressing the same, former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer is confident that Pant will surely surpass Dhoni.
“Yes, he can definitely become a better wicketkeeper-batter than Dhoni. At such a young age, he has already played some of the most incredible knock so in the coming 8-10 years, I feel he'll be more mature and with more experience he can definitely be a better than Dhoni,” said Jaffer during a Q/A session with ESPNCricinfo.
In the recently-concluded Test series, Pant scored a sensational 97-ball 96 in the first match in Mohali. He then went on to score the quickest the half-century among Indians in the following encounter in Bengaluru, which saw him break the record India's first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
In the match, Pant reached the milestone in just 28 deliveries, while Kapil, who previously held the record, had achieved the same in 30 balls.