Rishabh Pant addressed comparisons with the legendary MS Dhoni following India's commanding 280-run victory in the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh.
On Saturday, Pant made a remarkable comeback, scoring an emotional century in the opening Test in Chennai, which saw him equal Dhoni's record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. The innings, which was Pant's sixth Test century, sparked debates among fans and experts about the "greatest-ever" wicketkeeper-batter for India. However, Pant was quick to respond after India's emphatic win on Sunday, focusing on his desire to be his own player rather than being drawn into comparisons.
"This is CSK's home ground. Mahi bhai has played a lot of cricket here. But, for me, like I’ve said before, I want to be myself. I don’t focus on what’s being said or what’s happening around me. I keep things simple and focus on giving my best. The atmosphere here was amazing, and I really enjoyed it," Pant told the broadcasters after the match.
Pant's return to the format was highly anticipated, as he had been out of action for over 650 days following a car accident. His comeback knock of 109 in the second innings helped India set a massive target of 515. In the early phase of his innings, Pant demonstrated great patience and defensive skills, leaving deliveries outside off-stump. However, after lunch, with instructions from captain Rohit Sharma, he shifted gears and unleashed a flurry of boundaries, showcasing his trademark aggressive batting.
"I kept my thought process simple and played according to the situation. They started with spinners on Day 3, but I don’t go out with a predetermined way of playing. I knew we had lost three wickets, so I was conscious of not taking too many risks to avoid exposing the tail after Rahul bhai. The pitch was good for batting, and I wanted to make the most of it and score a hundred," Pant explained.
Pant also shared his thoughts on the team's strategy post-lunch: "When we went to Lunch, there was talk about a declaration. Rohit Sharma told us he’d give us an hour after the break and that we could score as many as we could. I thought I might even be able to get to 150."
India will now head to Kanpur for the second and final match of the series, scheduled for September 27.