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NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant is headed for greatness in Test cricket, according to former captain of India Sourav Ganguly, but the southpaw needs to improve in the shorter forms as well.
Pant made his first appearance on the Test side since his potentially fatal vehicle accident in December 2022 on Sunday. He is anticipated to start the opening Test match-up with Bangladesh, which gets underway in Chennai on September 19.
Pant has performed admirably in T20 and ODI cricket since his return from the injury earlier this year.
“I consider Rishabh Pant one of India’s best Test batsmen. I’m not surprised that he’s back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests,” Ganguly said at a promotional event in Kolkata as per PTI.
“He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats. With the talent he has, I’m sure with time, he will become one of the best.”
Indian selectors have included uncapped left-arm pacer Yash Dayal and Akash Deep in the team, choosing to allow Mohammed Shami more time to heal from an ankle surgery. The two leading pacers are Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
“I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It’s still a very good attack,” Ganguly said.
“In India, you will see a lot more spin. In Chennai, you will see a lot more bounce. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep are the four best spinners in the world at the moment — it won’t be easy. When you play in India, spinners have a lot more say in the game. But India are a very good team.”
“I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong.”
He also praised Bengal pacer Akash Deep, saying he was a player to watch out for.
“Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. I’ve seen him play for Bengal, taking wickets.
“He will be as quick as Siraj and Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for,” he added.
Tough challenge versus Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s next task after defeating Pakistan will be a two-Test series in India.
The “kettle of fish” with Rohit Sharma and Co. would be different, according to Ganguly.
“Going to Pakistan and beating them is never easy, so congratulations to the (Bangladesh) players. But India will be a different kettle of fish; India, whether at home or away, are a fantastic side with a very strong batting unit.
“I don’t see Bangladesh winning; India will win the series. But India must expect good and tough cricket from Bangladesh because they are coming into the series with a lot of confidence after beating Pakistan in Pakistan,” he added.
Genuine dearth of talent in Pakistan
Ganguly believes there is a “genuine dearth of talent” in Pakistan and that the team has moved on from its heyday, when players like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis constituted the core of the squad. Pakistan just suffered a new low in a Test series loss to Bangladesh.
“I see a genuine dearth of talent in the country. Every time we think of Pakistan, we remember Miandad, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan.
“That’s the memory of Pakistan for us, but that doesn’t win matches in the modern generation of cricket. Every generation has to produce outstanding players to win, and when I look at Pakistan in world cricket — I saw them in the West Indies World Cup, in India during the World Cup, and now after the Bangladesh series loss — there is a dearth of talent in that country.
“The people connected with the sport in Pakistan will have to look into it. I’m not saying this with disrespect. Pakistan of the old had some great cricketers, which I don’t see in this squad,” Ganguly said.
Pant made his first appearance on the Test side since his potentially fatal vehicle accident in December 2022 on Sunday. He is anticipated to start the opening Test match-up with Bangladesh, which gets underway in Chennai on September 19.
Pant has performed admirably in T20 and ODI cricket since his return from the injury earlier this year.
“I consider Rishabh Pant one of India’s best Test batsmen. I’m not surprised that he’s back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests,” Ganguly said at a promotional event in Kolkata as per PTI.
“He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats. With the talent he has, I’m sure with time, he will become one of the best.”
Indian selectors have included uncapped left-arm pacer Yash Dayal and Akash Deep in the team, choosing to allow Mohammed Shami more time to heal from an ankle surgery. The two leading pacers are Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
“I know Mohammed Shami is missing because of injury, but he will be back very soon since India is going to Australia. It’s still a very good attack,” Ganguly said.
“In India, you will see a lot more spin. In Chennai, you will see a lot more bounce. Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar, and Kuldeep are the four best spinners in the world at the moment — it won’t be easy. When you play in India, spinners have a lot more say in the game. But India are a very good team.”
“I am looking forward to their tour to Australia; that, for me, will be the real test for the squad. Then, when they tour England in July, these are the two most important tours, to be honest. I think the pace bowling department, with Bumrah and Siraj, and once Shami comes back, will be strong.”
He also praised Bengal pacer Akash Deep, saying he was a player to watch out for.
“Akash Deep is an outstanding young fast bowler. He runs in, bowls quick, and will bowl for long periods. I’ve seen him play for Bengal, taking wickets.
“He will be as quick as Siraj and Shami, hitting high 140s. He is one to watch out for,” he added.
Tough challenge versus Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s next task after defeating Pakistan will be a two-Test series in India.
The “kettle of fish” with Rohit Sharma and Co. would be different, according to Ganguly.
“Going to Pakistan and beating them is never easy, so congratulations to the (Bangladesh) players. But India will be a different kettle of fish; India, whether at home or away, are a fantastic side with a very strong batting unit.
“I don’t see Bangladesh winning; India will win the series. But India must expect good and tough cricket from Bangladesh because they are coming into the series with a lot of confidence after beating Pakistan in Pakistan,” he added.
Genuine dearth of talent in Pakistan
Ganguly believes there is a “genuine dearth of talent” in Pakistan and that the team has moved on from its heyday, when players like Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis constituted the core of the squad. Pakistan just suffered a new low in a Test series loss to Bangladesh.
“I see a genuine dearth of talent in the country. Every time we think of Pakistan, we remember Miandad, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, and Younis Khan.
“That’s the memory of Pakistan for us, but that doesn’t win matches in the modern generation of cricket. Every generation has to produce outstanding players to win, and when I look at Pakistan in world cricket — I saw them in the West Indies World Cup, in India during the World Cup, and now after the Bangladesh series loss — there is a dearth of talent in that country.
“The people connected with the sport in Pakistan will have to look into it. I’m not saying this with disrespect. Pakistan of the old had some great cricketers, which I don’t see in this squad,” Ganguly said.
