Aakash Chopra compares Rishabh Pant to Adam Gilchrist

Aakash Chopra has reckoned that Rishabh Pant is like Adam Gilchrist considering his game-changing knocks. The former Indian batsman made this observation while talking about Pant’s enterprising knock against Australia A on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra initiated the conversation by naming Rishabh Pant as his player of the day. He also mentioned that the southpaw aced Hanuma Vihari to the situation. The commentator highlighted that the wicketkeeper-batsman destroyed Australia’s bowling attack on the second day of the encounter.

The reputed commentator thinks Rishabh Pant evokes him of the Aussie great Adam Gilchrist. However, Chopra acknowledged that this is just the beginning of Pant’s career.

Chopra feels that Pant has the proficiency to be the finisher for "Men in Blue" in the purest format of the game. The 23-year-old can change the game in a single session. The commentator substantiated the Delhi-based player can easily modify the state of the game in a trice.

Rishabh Pant was under pressure when he walked in to bat: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra also emphasized that Rishabh Pant might have been under extreme pressure when he came to bat. The southpaw failed to perform in the first practice match and was dismissed cheaply in the first innings of this encounter. The former KKR batsman underlined that Rishabh Pant gave ample proof of his destructive abilities. Pant scored an accelerating century in the last session of the game.

The 43-year-old particularly applauded Rishabh Pant’s ability to hit lofty sixes into the stands. Rishabh smashed 22 runs in the last over to reach his century in just 73 balls. The wicket-keeper batsman hit six sixes and nine fours during this period.

Pant also formed a crucial unbeaten 147-run partnership with Hanuma Vihari. The duo took the side towards a mammoth total of 386. With such stunning performance on Australian soil, the wicket-keeper has a strong chance to be included in India’s Playing XI squad against Australia. 

Aakash Chopra signed off by saying that it would be a callous call for the team management. After Pant’s impressive performance, the authority will be in a dilemma to choose between Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha as the wicket-keeper for the first Test in Adelaide. Team India had declared their innings with the latter chasing a mammoth total of 473. After the practice match, both the sides will play in the pink-ball Test, from Thursday.

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