As the Indian Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is currently unavailable due to his wrist injury, young Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has earned an opportunity in the 18-member Indian Test squad for the first three Tests of the five-match Test series along with the experienced wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.
Pant has already impressed the cricket experts with his superb talent and many people have a big expectation from the young man. He has already made the international cricket debut as he has played four T20Is for India.
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His coach Tarak Sinha believes the young man as he claimed that the 20-year-old will serve the Indian cricket for a long time. Sinha also claimed that the wicketkeeper-batsman is very disciplined.
Sinha said according to the Sportstarlive, “He had improved on his wicketkeeping considerably. I had insisted that he had to be a good keeper first and then back it with his batting. He has been uncompromising as far as hard work is concerned. Never late for training and always attentive. Believe me, he will serve Indian cricket long and serve it well.”
Before the Indian Test team call-up, Pant has already been playing in England for India A. At first in this tour, he played well in the List A tri-series where he scored two half-centuries including an important 64* in the final game, where India A won the game against England Lions by five wickets and claimed the List A trophy.
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Recently, he further impressed in the four-day unofficial Test matches against West Indies A and England Lions. He played three consecutive 50+ knocks in the last three innings that secured his chance in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming big Test series.
Coach revealed that he worked on Pant’s temperament before he left for England.
Sinha said on that, “Before he left for England, I worked on his temperament and drilled home the point that he must learn to be patient. Temperament is the key if a player has to stand up to challenges. Rishabh has been a disciplined member of our club and brings lot of passion to his batting.”
In the end, Sinha quoted, “It’s just the beginning.”
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Meanwhile, the former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More praised Pant and compared with former great Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
More said, “He is exceptional and was playing for India A in England. But he could have been drafted in for the ODIs or T20s in the lead-up to this series. Having said that, it is good they are investing in him and carrying him with the team. He has the potential to be as dangerous as Adam Gilchrist batting at No 6 and 7.”
However, More also feels that the wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel’s dropping out was the harsh decision as the 33-year-old provides various options in the team.
More said for Parthiv, “They should carry him. He has the talent. A wicketkeeper’s life is very difficult. I felt it was very harsh on Parthiv (to be dropped after Tests in South Africa). One bad Test and everybody starts pointing a finger at wicketkeepers. Parthiv provides options, like opening the batting.”
