Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has praised wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his century in the first Test against Bangladesh, highlighting his defensive technique that resembles that of legendary former skipper MS Dhoni.
Pant’s century, along with Shubman Gill’s, helped India set a massive 515-run target for Bangladesh. Manjrekar noted that Pant’s innings showcased his willingness to play defensively, a trait often overlooked due to his aggressive batting style.
“It is a misleading package we see with Rishabh Pant,” Manjrekar said. “Underneath that, you will see as many dot balls in his innings as Shubman Gill’s, so he is willing to also play the defensive game that we have seen many times in the past.”
Manjrekar compared Pant’s defensive technique to Dhoni’s, who was known for his solid defense despite his reputation as a big-hitter. “He has got a pretty good defensive technique, bit like Dhoni, whose defensive technique was quite good,” Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar also noted Pant’s ability to adapt his batting to the situation, similar to former opener Virender Sehwag. “He is that kind of player who has his own way of getting runs and has his own agenda – a bit like Virender Sehwag,” Manjrekar said.
In the match, India posted a total of 515 runs, with Ashwin and Jadeja contributing significant innings. Bangladesh was bowled out for 149 in their first innings, trailing by 227 runs. In their second innings, India declared at 287/4, setting Bangladesh a target of 515.
At the end of day three, Bangladesh was 158/4, with Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the resistance.
