Rishabh Pant is Revolutionizing Cricket: Greg Chappell Praises Fearless Batting Approach

Former India coach Greg Chappell believes Rishabh Pant is changing the game of cricket with his unconventional and aggressive batting style. Chappell emphasized Pant's match-winning capabilities, highlighting his significant impact during the Headingley Test.

India may have lost the Headingley Test, but Pant's brilliance shone through as he scored centuries in both innings © AFP

Despite India's loss at Headingley, Pant's exceptional performance, marked by centuries in both innings, underscored his ability to single-handedly alter the course of a match.

Chappell lauded Pant's rapid scoring rate, which provides teams with a significant advantage in winning matches. He humorously noted that some of the shots Pant executes are not found in traditional coaching manuals, signifying his innovative approach to batting.

Pant has etched his name in history, joining Andy Flower as the only wicketkeeper-batters to achieve a century in each innings of a Test match.

Chappell acknowledged the influence of modern technology and improved bats, enabling shots previously deemed impossible. He described Pant as an exciting player to watch, unpredictable from the very first ball, capable of charging fast bowlers or executing audacious ramp shots. This element of surprise keeps the opposition constantly on edge.

Drawing comparisons, Chappell likened Pant to Adam Gilchrist, another iconic wicketkeeper, recognizing the immense value of having a wicketkeeper who can score rapidly and impact the game.

Chappell stated, "What an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your team. When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist. You know the difference that it can make to a team to have a wicketkeeper that can bat at that level and score runs quickly."

Gill's Captaincy: A Promising Start

Chappell also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's performance as captain, acknowledging that Gill had a good Test as a skipper. He believes Gill will improve with experience. Although India didn't win, Chappell noted several positive aspects of their performance. He felt the conditions on the final day favored Gill, which will contribute to his growth as a leader. Chappell emphasized the importance of capitalizing on opportunities such as catches and tail-end batting, suggesting that a stronger performance in these areas could have altered the outcome. Despite the loss, Chappell remains optimistic, highlighting the four remaining Test matches and Gill's promising start as captain.