Greg Chappell: Rishabh Pant is Revolutionizing Cricket with Unorthodox Batting

Former India coach Greg Chappell believes Rishabh Pant is revolutionizing cricket with his unconventional batting style. He described Pant as a "match-winner," highlighting his near game-changing performance at Headingley.

India faced defeat in the Headingley Test, but Pant's exceptional performance stood out. He achieved the remarkable feat of scoring centuries in both innings, underscoring his ability to redefine the game.

Rishabh Pant's centuries shine despite India's Headingley Test loss © AFP

Chappell lauded Pant's rapid scoring ability, which provides teams with the time needed to secure victories. "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," Chappell commented.

Pant etched his name in history by becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter, following Andy Flower, to achieve a century in each innings of a Test match.

Chappell, speaking at a promotional event in Mumbai, acknowledged the impact of modern technology and bat advancements on the game. He emphasized Pant's unpredictable and exciting style, noting, "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."

Drawing comparisons to another iconic wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, Chappell described Pant as "an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your team." He recalled his initial impressions of Pant, noting the similarities to Gilchrist and the significant impact a high-scoring wicketkeeper can have on a team.

Gill's Promising Captaincy Debut

Chappell also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's captaincy debut, acknowledging the challenging conditions faced by the team. Despite the loss, Chappell recognized the positive aspects of India's performance.

He stated, "Shubman Gill had a great start to his career as a Test match captain... He will only get better and better as a captain." Chappell believes Gill and the Indian think tank will learn valuable lessons from the match, and with improved catching and stronger tail-end batting, future results could be different. He concluded, "I think he made a very good start as captain."