Adam Gilchrist, a former Australian wicketkeeper, is
still captivated by the influence Rishabh Pant has made over his six years with
the Indian squad even though he won’t be able to participate in the 2018 World
Cup due to injury.
Especially in Test cricket, Pant, 25, has become one
of the first names included on the team sheet since making his international
debut in February 2017. His performance against Australia – 274 runs in five
innings, including a series-winning 89 at the Gabba – was important to India
winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020–21. His strike rate of 73 in the
longest format demonstrates the kind of threat he presents to the bowlers.
“I think Rishabh has inspired a lot of
wicket-keeper batters around the world to play that [aggressive] way. It is
fascinating for such a young man to have such an impact that Rishabh has had,
and others are responding and playing in that positive manner,” Gilchrist,
who is in India on a promotional visit, told PTI.
KL Rahul will probably keep wicket for India in the
World Cup in Pant’s absence. Ishan Kishan has previous expertise on the pitch
as well, although it seems that he will only be a middle-order batsman for the
first squad. Gilchrist was impressed with Kishan’s development despite the fact
that he is below Rahul in the hierarchy of importance.
“They [India] are well stocked,” Gilchrist
said. “They have got a couple of [wicketkeeping] options there, obviously,
when KL was out with his injury, Ishan Kishan took his opportunity and played
really well, and now they find themselves in the team together so that’s a
wonderful case of taking an opportunity.
“Being positive, and then, forcing the selectors
into keeping you in the team [is impressive]. It seems like KL is gonna be the
one who is going to continue with the gloves but it does not seem to hinder
Ishan Kishan’s batting, he seems to be playing really well, carefree, attacking
and dangerous.”
With the tournament less than three weeks away, and
having won it three times, Gilchrist was asked to pick his final four. “I
think India and Pakistan could feature, Australia and England are another two
teams,” he said.