Sanjay Manjrekar Showers Huge Praise On Rishabh Pant, Says, 'He Has Got Good Defensive Technique, Bit Like Dhoni'

IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has reckoned that Rishabh Pant's defensive technique is the same as that of ex-skipper MS Dhoni. Pant smashed his sixth Test century during the second innings in the series opener against Bangladesh at the Chepauk stadium.

Pant also leveled Dhoni's record for scoring the most Test centuries as an Indian wicket-keeper batter. He came into bat at the No.5 position and scored 109 runs off 128 balls, which also included 13 fours and four sixes. Manjrekar revealed that Pant should be praised for his brilliant stroke play and that his defensive technique shouldn't be ignored.

"It's a misleading package we see with Rishabh Pant. Underneath that, you will see as many dot balls in his innings at Shubman Gill's so he is willing to also play the defensive game that we have seen many times in the past,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying on ESPNCricinfo.

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“He has got a pretty good defensive technique, a bit like Dhoni, whose defensive technique was quite good. People talk about the leadership and the big-hitting power that Dhoni had, but his defensive technique was pretty good, and the same with Rishabh Pant as well," he revealed.

Pant has his way of getting runs

Pant was looking in good touch during the first innings as he scored a gritty knock of 39 runs off 52 balls but then Hasan Mahmud dismissed him, who also took a five-for. During the second innings, he not only batted brilliantly but also built a stable partnership of 167 runs for the fourth wicket with Shubman Gill.

Pant helped the team post a mammoth target of 515 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took his wicket caught and bold but the damage was already done till then. Manjrekar also predicted that Pant would be playing a huge role in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia later this year.

"We've seen these phases but it's about Pant playing as per the situation, sometimes dependent on his mood but also very careful about choosing the right kind of bowlers as long as there were off-spinners bowling, he wasn't taking too many chances. So he is that kind of player who has his way of getting runs and has his agenda - a bit like Virender Sehwag. When India goes to Australia, that is when they truly need him,” he concluded.

On the third day a stumps, the Bangla Tigers needed 357 runs to win the match with six wickets remaining during the second innings.