Rishabh Pant has got a muscle memory and thirst for victory: Matthew Hayden

Rishabh Pant was India’s poster boy for a while after India defeated Australia 2-1 in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He played some crucial knocks throughout the series but particularly his 89* on Day 5 at the Gabba made him a star of red-ball cricket. However, a significant time has passed since then and Pant hasn’t played a lot of Test cricket as he was sidelined with multiple injuries following a car accident in December 2022.

He is expected to return to the scheme of things in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh but a place in the playing XI is not yet confirmed. Dhruv Jurel has done a commendable job in the series against England and the team management might prefer him over Pant, especially as his fitness for Test cricket is still a doubt.

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Former cricketer Matthew Hayden however is optimistic about Pant and believes that he will be hungry to score plenty of runs in the upcoming five-match series against Australia. He reminded Pant’s impact the last time India travelled Down Under and that the fans love to watch him bat. Hayden also added that he is keen to see India’s strategy for the series, which is slated to begin on November 22.

“Guys like Rishabh Pant have got a muscle memory and the thirst for victory. He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game,” Hayden told media on the sidelines of ‘CEAT Cricket Rating Awards’ on Wednesday.

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“It was exciting. It was innovative. It was just fresh and good. Then you have got your old stewards, like Virat Kohli, (he) will want to make an impression again. From a batting point of view, I’m excited to see how India have that strategy to take on the Australian conditions,” the Australian added.

Notably, ahead of the Bangladesh series, Pant will be playing in the Duleep Trophy, which begins on September 5.