More than 600 days after his serious car accident, Rishabh Pant made a triumphant return to form by scoring a century on Day 3 of the first Test against Bangladesh.
His century came at a critical point in the match, with India in trouble after losing several key top-order batsmen early in the second innings. Pant, alongside Shubman Gill, who also scored a century, stabilized the innings with a vital partnership, putting the team in a commanding position.
In reaching his hundred, Pant equaled MS Dhoni’s record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket.
A Debate Rekindled After Record-Equalling Ton
Pant’s achievement at the age of 26 sparked debate on social media, with many fans comparing him to the legendary Dhoni. Even former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik joined the conversation, although he urged patience before making any final judgments.
Karthik noted that while Pant is on the path to becoming India’s greatest wicketkeeper-batter, it is too soon to make such bold claims based on just 34 Tests. He emphasized the need to appreciate Dhoni’s all-round contributions as both a batsman and a leader who guided India to the top of the Test rankings and won the World Test Championship mace.
While Dhoni is celebrated as one of India’s finest cricketers, especially in white-ball formats, his performance in Test cricket was not as dominant. In contrast, Pant has shown greater promise in the longer format, establishing himself as a key figure in India’s Test lineup, even though his success in limited-overs cricket is not as pronounced. As Pant continues to grow, the comparisons with Dhoni will likely persist, but for now, his journey is far from complete.
Rishabh Pant’s remarkable comeback and century against Bangladesh not only demonstrated his resilience and skill but also reignited debates comparing him to MS Dhoni. While Pant has shown immense potential, particularly in Test cricket, surpassing Dhoni’s legacy is a challenge that will take time.
Dhoni’s contributions as a wicketkeeper-batter and leader are unmatched, having achieved success across all formats. However, with Pant’s ongoing growth and promising performances, particularly in the Test arena, he is certainly on the path to establishing his own legacy in Indian cricket.
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