Chappell Praises Pant's 'Game-Changing' Innings, Draws Gilchrist Comparison After Headingley Heroics

Greg Chappell Lauds Rishabh Pant's Game-Changing Innings Against England

Former India coach Greg Chappell has showered praise on Rishabh Pant following the wicketkeeper-batter's remarkable centuries at Headingley. Chappell hailed Pant as a game-changer, drawing comparisons between his impact and that of Australian legend Adam Gilchrist.

Rishabh Pant celebrates a century against England.

Pant, who now serves as India's Test vice-captain, achieved a rare feat by becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter, after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, to score a century in each innings of a Test match. His explosive batting display was a major highlight of the series opener at Headingley, even though India ultimately suffered a five-wicket defeat against the hosts on Day 5.

"The beauty of it (Pant’s batting) is that he gets his runs at a very fast rate, which gives you time to win cricket matches. It 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," Chappell remarked at an event in Mumbai.

Chappell believes that Pant is revolutionizing Test batting with his fearless approach, capitalizing on modern bats and his innate flair.

"He is reinventing the game as a batter. You know, modern technology, the bats are very different. You can play shots that weren’t possible with the old bats. But man, he’s exciting to watch," he added.

Pant's unpredictable nature also captivated Chappell. “You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He’s likely to jump down the wicket to the pacers, 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.

Recalling his initial impressions of the left-hander, Chappell stated, “When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist.”

Pant’s twin centuries have propelled him to a career-best seventh position in the ICC Test rankings for batters. India aims to leverage his explosive form in the second Test.