Pant, who returned to competitive cricket with the Indian Premier League earlier this year, spent more than a year in rehab following multiple surgeries.Subsequently, he contributed to India’s T20 World Cup triumph and then played the Duleep Trophy to mark his red-ball comeback.
Pant’s fighting spirit, “fearless” approach and “fun ways” of approaching the game got him a big thumbs-up from Australia legend Adam Gilchrist.
In the same attacking batting mold as former wicketkeeper Gilchrist, Pant likes to take on the bowlers and still not lose his sense of humour. The Australian finds that one of the many special qualities Pant possesses.
“I reckon he attacks a bit more than I did,” said Gilchrist while talking on a podcast, a clip of which has been doing the rounds on social media.
“I played an aggressive brand at that time, but Rishabh, he looks fearless. What I do like is that he occasionally puts a foot on the brake and absorbs a bit of pressure. So he’s a class act.”
Gilchrist, who played 96 Tests, 287 ODIs and 13 T20Is, gave a new definition to an attacking opening batsman, just like former India opener Virender Sehwag.
He feels the kind of entertainment Rishabh provides is what people pay money for.
“He is, what you say, bums on seats and people pay money well and truly. I would happily pay money to watch him play cricket. So that’s a great quality to have, I think, if people are acknowledging in that manner because he gets the results, he’s a winner and a survivor, as we know. He’s all class in everything he does. He’s good fun, he’s got the humour. He knows how to go about a very serious business in a fun way,” said the World Cup winner.
Pant scored 39 in his first Test innings upon return.