Rishabh Pant's Fearless Batting Revolutionizes Test Cricket: Greg Chappell Hails Game-Changing Innings

Greg Chappell Lauds Rishabh Pant's Game-Changing Innings Against England

Former India coach Greg Chappell has showered praise on Rishabh Pant following the wicketkeeper-batter's remarkable twin centuries at Headingley. Chappell likened Pant's impactful performance to that of Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, recognizing him as a true game-changer.

Rishabh Pant scored smashing centuries in both innings against England (Image via AP/Scott Heppell)

Pant, who now serves as India's Test vice-captain, etched his name in history as only the second wicketkeeper-batter, after Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, to achieve a century in both innings of a Test match. His aggressive batting display stood out during the series opener at Headingley, even as India faced a five-wicket defeat against the hosts on Day 5.

"The beauty of it is that he gets his runs at a very fast rate, which gives you time to win cricket matches. It was a phenomenal performance; some of the shots that he played probably weren’t in the MCC coaching manual when I last looked at it," Chappell remarked at a recent event in Mumbai.

Chappell believes Pant is revolutionizing Test batting with his fearless approach, effectively utilizing modern bats and his inherent talent.

“He is reinventing the game as a batter. You know, modern technology, the bats are very different. You can play shots that weren’t possible with the old bats. But man, he’s exciting to watch,” he added.

Pant's ability to surprise bowlers has also impressed Chappell. “You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He’s likely to jump down the wicket to the pacers, or he’ll play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect, so it keeps the opposition on their toes,” he explained.

Recalling his initial thoughts on the left-handed batsman, Chappell stated, “When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist.”

Pant's twin centuries propelled him to a career-best seventh position in the ICC Test rankings for batters. India aims to leverage his explosive form in the second Test, scheduled to commence on July 2. A victory would level the series for the visitors.