NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant is set to return to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus, having last played against Bangladesh in 2022.
The India-Bangladesh Test match is scheduled to begin on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Pant’s journey back to the cricket field is remarkable, considering the severe car accident he survived. Overcoming such adversity, he now prepares to re-establish himself in the Test format.
Remarkably, a staggering 632 days had elapsed since Pant last graced the cricket pitch in a Test match.
The coincidence of facing the same opposition after such a prolonged absence added an extra layer of intrigue to his return.
In the interim, Dhruv Jurel has shown promise as a wicketkeeper-batsman, particularly during the home series against England. Despite Jurel’s performances, head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized the importance of Pant’s presence in the team.
“We all know how destructive he can be (as a batter) and what he can do in Test cricket. Obviously, it gives him the freedom to go out there and express himself. He has got runs everywhere around the world,” PTI quoted Gambhir as saying in the pre-match press meet.
“It is always good to have someone like him who can open the game for us and more importantly can bring a lot of impact as well,” he added.
Pant recently proved his readiness for Test cricket by performing well in the Duleep Trophy for India B. In that match, he scored a swift 61 off 47 balls and excelled as a wicketkeeper, taking seven catches.
Assessing his wicketkeeping skills, Gambhir noted, “Not only with his batting, he has been excellent behind the stumps as well. Probably his batting overshadows his keeping many times. ”
He continued, “So, what he has done behind the stumps has been remarkable. Obviously, he brings a lot of good things to the Test side. Not only from the batting point of view, but from the keeping point of view as well.”
Ricky Ponting, who coached Pant at Delhi Capitals, praised his enthusiasm and competitive spirit.
“He’s an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket. He’s a winner. He doesn’t just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it,” Ponting told Sky Sports.
Pant’s return to the Test arena is highly anticipated, and his performance will be closely watched as India take on Bangladesh.
The India-Bangladesh Test match is scheduled to begin on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Pant’s journey back to the cricket field is remarkable, considering the severe car accident he survived. Overcoming such adversity, he now prepares to re-establish himself in the Test format.
Remarkably, a staggering 632 days had elapsed since Pant last graced the cricket pitch in a Test match.
The coincidence of facing the same opposition after such a prolonged absence added an extra layer of intrigue to his return.
In the interim, Dhruv Jurel has shown promise as a wicketkeeper-batsman, particularly during the home series against England. Despite Jurel’s performances, head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized the importance of Pant’s presence in the team.
“We all know how destructive he can be (as a batter) and what he can do in Test cricket. Obviously, it gives him the freedom to go out there and express himself. He has got runs everywhere around the world,” PTI quoted Gambhir as saying in the pre-match press meet.
“It is always good to have someone like him who can open the game for us and more importantly can bring a lot of impact as well,” he added.
Pant recently proved his readiness for Test cricket by performing well in the Duleep Trophy for India B. In that match, he scored a swift 61 off 47 balls and excelled as a wicketkeeper, taking seven catches.
Assessing his wicketkeeping skills, Gambhir noted, “Not only with his batting, he has been excellent behind the stumps as well. Probably his batting overshadows his keeping many times. ”
He continued, “So, what he has done behind the stumps has been remarkable. Obviously, he brings a lot of good things to the Test side. Not only from the batting point of view, but from the keeping point of view as well.”
Ricky Ponting, who coached Pant at Delhi Capitals, praised his enthusiasm and competitive spirit.
“He’s an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket. He’s a winner. He doesn’t just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it,” Ponting told Sky Sports.
Pant’s return to the Test arena is highly anticipated, and his performance will be closely watched as India take on Bangladesh.
