Greg Chappell: Rishabh Pant is 'Reinventing' Cricket with His Unorthodox Style

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

Rishabh Pant's incredible batting display at Headingley © AFP

Despite India's loss in the Headingley Test, Pant's brilliance shone brightly as he achieved the remarkable feat of scoring centuries in both innings, underscoring his ability to single-handedly alter the course of a game.

Chappell emphasized the significance of Pant's rapid scoring rate, stating, "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." 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 achievement places him in an elite category, as he became only the second wicketkeeper-batter, following Andy Flower, to achieve the distinction of scoring a century in each innings of a Test match.

Speaking at a promotional event in Mumbai, Chappell noted the impact of modern technology and bat advancements, acknowledging that they enable shots previously unimaginable. However, he stressed Pant's unique excitement factor: "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 to another iconic wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, Chappell, a highly respected figure in Australian cricket history, highlighted the value Pant brings to his team.

"What an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your team," he said. "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."

Chappell Praises Shubman Gill's Captaincy Debut

Chappell also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's performance as captain, suggesting he demonstrated promising leadership qualities and is poised for future growth. He stated, "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 added, "So he will have learned a lot from that. The Indian think tank will have learned a lot from what happened in the Test match. He will only get better and better as a captain. Had the team taken a few more catches and, maybe, if the tail had wagged a bit stronger in both innings, the result could have been very different. But I think there are four Test matches to go. Let's wait and see, but I think he made a very good start as captain."