Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that keeper-batter Rishabh Pant has the potential to become an all-time great in Test cricket. However, Ganguly also noted that the gifted left-hander needs to improve his performance in shorter formats.
This is the first time since December 2022, when Pant was in a car accident, that he has come back to the Test side. He will be a part of the Indian team for their first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. He made his international return during the 2024 T20 World Cup and also played in the white-ball series in Sri Lanka.
In India’s red ball matches, the stumper has an impressive record and Ganguly believes he can become one of the all-time greats in this format. (as reported by PTI), he spoke during an event at Kolkata:
“He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats. With the talent he has, I’m sure with time, he will become one of the best.”
“I consider Rishabh Pant one of India’s best Test batsmen. I’m not surprised that he’s back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests,” the former India captain added.
Sourav Ganguly "I consider Rishabh Pant one of India's best Test batsmen. I'm not surprised that he's back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests.He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this."pic.twitter.com/L9o4fdXes0
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) September 9, 2024
Pant has accumulated a total of 2271 runs in 33 Test matches at an average of 43.67 along with five hundreds and eleven fifties. However, he has not been very successful in limited overs formats. He played 31 ODIs where he scored 871 runs with an average of 33.50. Furthermore, he appeared in 76 T20Is and scored only 1209 runs with an average of 23.25 along with a strike rate of 127.26.
“Excited for Their Tour of Australia” – Ganguly on India’s Upcoming Test Challenges
Ganguly is looking forward to the five-Test series against Australia while India will soon play two Test matches at home against Bangladesh. In the opinion of the former captain, it will be a real test for the visiting team. The 52-year-old had stated:
“I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong.”
From November 22 to January 7, India will be playing five Tests on Australian soil, and they will also be participating in as many Tests in England from June through August next year.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
