Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has heaped praise on Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, calling him a game-changer. Pant wowed fans with his bold batting during the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, where he made history by scoring centuries in both innings—only the second wicketkeeper to achieve this milestone.
Chappell noted that Pant is redefining what it means to bat in today’s game. “Rishabh scores runs at a quick pace, which helps teams win matches. His performance was incredible. Some of the shots he played are beyond the traditional cricket manual. He’s truly changing the game,” Chappell said.
He also drew a comparison between Pant and the legendary Adam Gilchrist, highlighting Pant’s unpredictable playstyle. Chappell mentioned, “When I first saw him, he reminded me of Gilchrist, but he’s a unique player. Having a wicketkeeper who can bat so effectively changes the game. He always surprises you, whether jumping down the wicket or playing daring shots. This keeps the opposing team on edge, and he’s certainly a match-winner.”
In both innings of the Headingley Test, Pant built crucial partnerships, notably adding 209 runs with captain Shubman Gill in the first innings. Pant scored 134 off 178 balls, featuring 12 fours and six sixes. With this performance, he surpassed the great MS Dhoni, setting a new record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test matches. In the second innings, he continued his impressive form, contributing 118 off 140 balls alongside KL Rahul, helping them put together another solid partnership worth 195 runs.
Unfortunately, despite his outstanding performance, India’s effort fell short as England successfully chased down 371 runs in the fourth innings, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
