Michael Vaughan, who has emerged as one of Rishabh Pant’s most vocal admirers, lauds him as a trendsetter and draws comparisons with MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist.
India’s vice-captain, who had a fantastic start to the series with twin centuries against England in the 1st Test, has been in the spotlight ever since. Former England captain Vaughan recently spoke about Pant on a cricket podcast, praising his heroics and consistency.
Vaughan Compares Pant to Gilchrist, Sees Dhoni-Like Potential in White-Ball Cricket
Vaughan compared Rishabh Pant with Adam Gilchrist in the longer format, particularly their aggressive style of play. Gilchrist, who found consistent success batting at number 7 for Australia, is now being mirrored by Pant, who is doing the same for India at number 5.
Also Read: ICC Playing Conditions Updated: From Over-Rate Penalties to New DRS Rules - All You Need to Know
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He hailed Adam Gilchrist as one of the best wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket and highlighted Pant’s growth in the format. Vaughan also expressed hope that Pant would find the same rhythm in white-ball cricket, mentioning how MS Dhoni had impressed him in that arena.
“Adam Gilchrist, for me, is the best wicketkeeper-batter. But Pant just set a new trend. I mean MS Dhoni, across white-ball cricket, was fantastic. You would think with the way that he plays, Pant would be completely suited to the white-ball game and not so much the Test game. But his Test record is miles better than his white-ball record,” Vaughan said on the Podcast.
Also read: Ravi Ashwin: “Unfair to Compare MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant”
Vaughan Hails Pant as Test Trendsetter Admired by Stokes
He further praised Pant’s presence of mind, calling him a trendsetter, and noted that even England captain Ben Stokes admires him at the crease.
“There’s a lot of science in that madness, the way that he plays. You can see even Ben Stokes is admiring when he’s batting,” he added.
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Rishabh Pant has become India’s most reliable middle-order batter in Test cricket. Averaging 44 in the format, his consistent contributions have made him a valuable asset, especially critical for India as they look to mount a comeback in the ongoing series.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s tour of England 2025.
