AB de Villiers has issued a friendly warning to Rishabh Pant following the young wicketkeeper’s recent comments on Test cricket. Pant remarked that he finds Test matches easier because he can take his time and absorb pressure, unlike in the fast-paced T20 format.
de Villiers, an experienced former South African cricketer, understands Pant’s perspective but cautions him about the challenges of playing in difficult overseas conditions.
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What did Rishabh Pant say about Test cricket?
During a conversation with Colin Munro, Pant stated that he prefers Test cricket. He believes it’s easier than the shorter formats because there’s more room to manage pressure. In T20, batsmen feel the urgency to score quickly, even after just a couple of dot balls.
Pant said that in Test matches, if bowlers get on top for a few overs, he can just wait and soak up the pressure. This is a luxury that T20 doesn’t allow, as the batsman is always under pressure to score.
How did AB de Villiers respond to Rishabh Pant’s remarks?
While de Villiers relates to Pant’s thoughts, he doesn’t entirely agree. de Villiers explained that Test cricket can be very challenging, especially in countries like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia, where conditions can be tough.
“There’s no way that I will agree with the fact that Test cricket is easier. Maybe at times, but when you start traveling a lot to South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand… it is not easy to keep that kind of rhythm,” said de Villiers on his YouTube channel.
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He highlighted that maintaining rhythm across different environments can become difficult. If a player faces a few good deliveries back-to-back, Test cricket can quickly turn into a tough experience.
de Villiers has seen firsthand how demanding Test cricket can be, particularly on overseas tours. He explained that in places like England and South Africa, a couple of good deliveries can put a batsman in a difficult situation.
“It can get very tough if you get two or three good deliveries back-to-back. The Test format can very quickly become a big dark hole, trust me, I can talk from experience,” he added.
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He warned Pant that although he is performing well, the challenges of SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions can catch up with any cricketer.
de Villiers also praised Pant for his ability to change gears quickly and dominate attacks in Test cricket. He admires Pant’s fighting spirit and believes that he has the grit to succeed, even in the toughest situations.
“I love watching him play, especially in Test matches. He’s got this gear of jumping from the second to the fifth in no time. He’s competitive, he’s always got that fight in him. Hopefully Rishabh won’t experience that (tough conditions) and he’ll keep that fantastic form in the Test format that we’ve seen,” he concluded.
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