Risabh Pant gives classy reply about MS Dhoni's future in Indian team

Rishabh Pant has witnessed massive turnarounds in his career in the last few months and that began with his inclusion in the Test side during India’s tour of England earlier this year.

Ever since then, he has been in the middle or comparisons to the likes of Wriddhiman Saha and MS Dhoni in the Test and limited-overs format respectively.

However, the young Pant has made it clear that he is not in a place to keep comparing his game to others.

“I’m not here to compete with anyone. For me, this phase is all about learning. I keep going up to Mahi bhai and pick up things,” Pant said.

Prior to the England tour, Pant was dealing with anxiety as he was scared that he’ll forever be labeled just a limited-overs cricketer.

He first came in the limelight when he played a few explosive innings in the 2016 U-19 World Cup. That was followed by two excellent IPL stints and soon he was considered as an able slogger. So much that even a productive First-Class season (2016-17), which included a triple century, was ignored.

However, when he received his maiden Test call, Pant breathed a sigh of relief. “That I could play red-ball cricket was important too. My childhood coach Tarak Sinha always maintained that he would not consider me an international payer unless i played Test cricket,” Pant said.

Pant became one of those few cricketers whose first Test runs came off a six which he smashed off Adil Rashid at Trent Bridge in the third Test. Pant then scored his maiden Test century in the fifth Test at the Oval.

“To do it in England against such an attack was very important for me,” he said.