'None can replace Pant's desire...' - Ian Chappell's claim on Rishabh Pant missing out Tests vs Australia

Rishabh Pant, the Indian wicketkeeper, will not be a part of the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since his debut and many cricketers from Australia claimed that the southpaw will be missed in the upcoming series against India, given that Pant is known for his performances against the Baggy Greens and his cheeky banters. 

Commenting on the same, former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell claimed that the batter cannot be replaced and his absence might impact the series. Further, Chappell claimed that the southpaw has the undeniable ability to up the run rate in the longest format of the game, even when the opponent comes up with a challenging pace battery. 

Pant’s innings at the Gabba during the 2020/21 series is well documented and it is not something new that the southpaw could do wonders with the bat. With him still recovering after his accident, it remains to be seen if he could make a comeback for the 50-over World Cup scheduled to take place later this year in India. 

India also have some points to prove: Ian Chappell

Further, the 79-year-old said that it would be vital for the team to put up a strong fight against the Australians, claiming that the Indian men have a lot to prove in the upcoming series. India, on the other hand, would leave no stone unturned to retain the trophy and prove a point ahead of the multinational tournament. 

“India also have some points to prove, not the least to do with how how Pant's replacement performs. The main thing India will lose from Pant's unavailability is an excellent run rate, which came from his belligerent aggression. No one can replace Pant's desire to dominate bowlers, so India have to rely on their top batters not only performing but also maintaining a good strike rate,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo. 

“One of the main tasks for Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara will be to establish mental superiority over Lyon. If Australia can't rely on Lyon claiming regular wickets at an acceptable rate, their bowling will then depend greatly on the "big three"," he added.