Greg Chappell: Rishabh Pant is Revolutionizing Cricket with Unorthodox Style

Rishabh Pant is not just playing cricket; he's reinventing it. That's the assessment from former India coach Greg Chappell, who believes Pant's unconventional approach is reshaping the game. Chappell emphasized Pant's ability to single-handedly win matches, noting his significant impact during the Headingley Test.

India may have lost the Headingley Test, but Pant's brilliance shone through as he scored centuries in both innings © AFP

Despite India's loss at Headingley, Pant's remarkable performance, which included centuries in both innings, highlighted his exceptional talent and game-changing potential.

Chappell lauded Pant's rapid scoring rate, which he believes provides teams with the opportunity to secure victories. "His was a phenomenal performance," Chappell stated. "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 historic achievement of becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter, after Andy Flower, to score a century in each innings of a Test match, further solidifies his unique place in cricket history.

Speaking at a promotional event in Mumbai, Chappell commented on Pant's innovative approach, stating, "You know, modern technology - the bats are very different. Obviously, you can play shots that weren't possible with the old bats. But man, he's exciting to watch. 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 with another legendary wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, Chappell noted, "What an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your 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."

Shubman Gill's Captaincy Praised

Chappell also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's performance as captain, suggesting that he had a promising start and is poised for further improvement. "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."