Greg Chappell: Rishabh Pant is Revolutionizing Cricket with Unorthodox Style

Rishabh Pant is not just playing cricket; he's revolutionizing it. That's the assessment of former India coach Greg Chappell, who believes Pant's unconventional batting style is redefining the sport.

Rishabh Pant's twin centuries at Headingley © AFP

Game-Changing Innings at Headingley

Even though India faced defeat in the Headingley Test, Pant's individual brilliance shone brightly. He achieved the remarkable feat of scoring centuries in both innings, underscoring his ability to turn the tide of a game.

"The beauty of it is that he gets his runs at a very fast rate, which gives you time to win cricket matches," Chappell noted. He further added, "His was a phenomenal performance - some of the shots that he played probably weren't in the MCC coaching manual when I last looked at it. He is reinventing the game as a batsman."

Pant's Unique Record

Pant has etched his name in the record books, joining Andy Flower as only the second wicketkeeper-batter to achieve the distinction of scoring a century in each innings of a Test match.

Unpredictability Keeps Opposition on Their Toes

Chappell highlighted Pant's unpredictable nature as a key element of his game. "You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He's likely to jump down the wicket to the fast bowlers, or he'll play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect, so it keeps the opposition on their toes," he explained at a promotional event.

Parallels with Adam Gilchrist

Drawing comparisons with another legendary wicketkeeper-batter, Adam Gilchrist, Chappell acknowledged the significant impact a player like Pant can have on a team. "When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist. You know the difference that it can make to a team to have a wicketkeeper that can bat at that level and score runs quickly."

Gill's Promising Start as Captain

Chappell also commented on Shubman Gill's performance as captain, suggesting he displayed promising signs and will only improve with experience. "It was a terrific Test match. Sadly, India didn't finish up on the correct side, but there were a lot of good things that they did. Shubman Gill had a great start to his career as a Test match captain... He will only get better and better as a captain."