Rishabh Pant is one name that is on everyone’s lips, and why not – he just scored perhaps the best comeback hundred in the game (against Bangladesh in the Chennai Test). Tied with MS Dhoni’s tally of six Test centuries, in fewer Tests than the former India captain, the debate has begun on ‘If Pant has surpassed everyone to be India’s greatest keeper-batter. However, the ex-India gloveman, Dinesh Karthik, says hold on, reminding everyone of Dhoni’s credentials in this format.
While MS Dhoni played 90 Tests, retiring in 2014, Pant completed his 34th Test (Chennai game), which India won by 280 runs.
Karthik, who, all his life, was compared to MS Dhoni, knows what it takes to surpass the great man in Tests, a format that wasn’t Dhoni’s favourite in the first place.
Asking fans to hold their horses for now regarding Pant’s status in Test cricket, Karthik said, “It’s very unacceptable to say that he’s played 34 Tests and he’s already India’s greatest wicketkeeper batter. Let’s take time, let’s not jump to conclusions, but definitely, he’s on course for sure, and he will finish as India’s greatest ever wicketkeeper.”
“Don’t discount Dhoni’s credentials as a wicketkeeper as well. He not only kept brilliantly, batted and scored runs when it mattered very, very well for India, but also, he led India to a World Test Championship mace, which is becoming number one. So, you got to give all that weightage as well when you speak about a player all round,” the former India player said in a chat on Cricbuzz.
Comeback hundred for Pant
Rishabh Pant was enjoying his cricket and life when a horrifying car crash almost killed him. Though with God’s grace, he came out of it alive, and despite being sidelined for more than a year, he returned to playing competitive cricket, Pant made his chances count since.
He captained Delhi Capitals upon his return, ending up as their highest scorer this season (448 runs in 13 matches), and almost a month later, won his maiden T20 World Cup for India in the Americas.
Picked for the first time in the Test squad since December 2022, Pant got out early in the first innings against Bangladesh but slammed a brilliant hundred in the second.
Meanwhile, unlike MS Dhoni or any other Indian gloveman earlier, Pant already has a Test hundred in Australia, England and South Africa, with Australia being his favourite venue.
(With inputs from agencies)
