Sat Sep 21 17:50:50 UTC 2024: ## Pant’s Defensive Technique Praised: Echoes of Dhoni, Says Manjrekar
Chennai, India – Rishabh Pant’s explosive century in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh has earned him widespread praise, but former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has highlighted another aspect of his game: his impressive defensive technique.
While acknowledging Pant’s flair for big hitting, Manjrekar drew parallels between the wicketkeeper-batter’s defensive approach and that of former Indian captain MS Dhoni. “He has got a pretty good defensive technique, bit like Dhoni, whose defensive technique was quite good,” Manjrekar said, emphasizing that Pant is capable of playing a more measured game when required.
Pant’s ability to adjust his style according to the situation was evident in the match. He played aggressively in the first innings, but then anchored a crucial 167-run partnership with Shubman Gill in the second, laying the foundation for India’s imposing target of 515.
Manjrekar believes that Pant’s adaptability will be vital when India travels to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “When India goes to Australia, that is when they truly need him,” he asserted, highlighting Pant’s ability to tailor his game to different conditions and opponents.
Pant, who scored his sixth Test century in the match, equaled Dhoni’s record for most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. This feat, coupled with his strong defensive technique, further solidifies his status as a crucial asset for the Indian team in upcoming challenges.
First Piper 