'They are ultra-competitive' - Ricky Ponting highlights similarities between Rishabh Pant and Adam Gilchrist

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has compared Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to one of the all-time greatest wicketkeepers in Adam Gilchrist in terms of their approach to the game. Ponting has been the head coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2018 IPL and does know a lot about the 24-year-old. Pant was recently retained by the franchise for INR 16 crore and he will be leading the side in the upcoming edition.

Gilchrist meanwhile, was one of the most aggressive openers in the white-ball format and had a phenomenal record to back it u,p as well. He played 96 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 13 T20Is in the international circuit and is excellent behind the stumps. Pant played one of the memorable innings in Gabba last year with an unbeaten 89 to win the series 2-1 for India and a lot of experts had raised comparisons with Gilchrist for sticking onto the attacking mode in Tests.

Adam Gilchrist was ultra-competitive as well: Ricky Ponting

Ponting mentioned that Pant will have to be assessed after he plays 50-60 Tests but sighted similarities between him and Gilchrist already. He explained the two personalities in detail having seen the players in close quarters and noted about Pant’s willingness to get to his hundred in Tests with a six being a hallmark of his game.

“Yeah, [they are] little bit the same. I know Rishabh’s really burst onto the scene, but let’s just let him play his 50-60 Test matches first before we start making comparisons to one of the all-time great wicket-keeper batters,”

“But if you think about their personalities – Rishabh is a lot more outward, a lot louder, a lot noisier and ultra-competitive. Gilly was ultra-competitive as well, but a lot quieter and reserved, until he got his bat in his hand and then he became exactly the same as Rishabh,” Ponting was quoted as saying by TOI

“Rishabh will be exactly the same. If you look at Rishabh – I am not sure how many Test hundreds he’s got – but he has a few 90s in there. And he’s actually got out trying to bring up his hundred with a six. That’s the good and the bad, right?” The legend added

Pant has been a relevation since coming into the Indian Test team and his wicket-keeping skills have improved immensely as well. It’s certainly a huge credit for Pant to be compared to one of the all-time greats in just his 20s and the left hander-has brought up Test centuries in tough overseas conditions as well. The wicketkeeper batter scored a magnificent unbeaten century in Cape Town against South Africa on a losing cause when most of the Indian batters struggled.