Rishabh Pant is work in progress just like MS Dhoni in his initial years: Deep Dasgupta

Rishabh Pant has arrived on India’s cricket horizon as a fresh air after the team struggled to find a long-term solution to the post-Mahendra Singh Dhoni days. The wicket-keepers’ position virtually witnessed a musical chair, especially in the longer format after Dhoni retired till Pant made his debut in England last year. The 21-year-old still needs more polishing of his skills to fulfil his potential at the highest level even though he has already shown to the world what he is capable of doing with the bat.

Currently, the debate is on whether Pant should get a chance to play his first World Cup this year, especially after he displayed his big-hitting skills in red-ball cricket. Former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta feels the wicket-keeper-batsman is still a work in progress just like Dhoni himself when he had arrived on the scene in 2004.

Pant needs to analyze what suits him best, feels Dasgupta

Pant’s batting has come under the scanner a few times after he got out to adventurous shots but that was the case with his senior keeper mate when he was at his carefree best with those locks. Dasgupta, who played eight Tests and five ODIs in 2001-02 and has a Test century, said Pant needs to analyze what suits him best and improve both as a wicket-keeper and a batsman. He also praised the youngster for working on bettering his glovework in Bengaluru.

“Just like Dhoni, when he came into the side initially. Even Rishabh is a work in progress. Let’s not forget he’s only 21-22. The best part of his career is ahead of him. Not just as a wicketkeeper, but even batting wise,” Dasgupta, 41, told India Today.

“He needs to try and figure out what works for him. When you look at MSD, he looks very unorthodox but he’s brilliant. Pant himself needs to figure out what he needs to improve on as a wicketkeeper and batsman. Nobody’s perfect but he has to find a way to figure out what works for him.”

Pant hit a century in his debut Test series in England and then after scoring a couple of 90s against the Windies at home, hammered 159 not out against Australia in Sydney last month to make an emphatic statement. However, he was out of the Indian side following that knock as Dhoni returned to play the ODIs against Australia and New Zealand. Pant returned to the team for the three-match T20I series in New Zealand in which he scored 72 runs from all matches.

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