Greg Chappell: Rishabh Pant is Revolutionizing Cricket with Unconventional Batting Style

Former India coach Greg Chappell believes Rishabh Pant is revolutionizing cricket with his unconventional and aggressive batting style. Chappell emphasized Pant's match-winning capabilities, noting his significant impact during the Headingley Test.

Pant's centuries in both innings at Headingley highlighted his game-changing potential © AFP

Despite India's defeat in the Headingley Test, Pant's exceptional performance, marked by centuries in both innings, underscored his ability to turn the game around.

Chappell highlighted the rapid scoring rate that Pant achieves, providing his team with opportunities to secure victories. "His was a phenomenal performance," Chappell stated. "Some of the shots that he played probably weren't in the MCC coaching manual when I last looked at it. He is reinventing the game as a batsman."

Pant's achievement places him in an elite category, as he became only the second wicketkeeper-batter, following Andy Flower, to achieve a century in each innings of a Test match.

Chappell further elaborated on how modern technology and innovative bats enable players to execute shots previously deemed impossible. He said, "You know, modern technology - the bats are very different. Obviously, you can play shots that weren't possible with the old bats. But man, he's exciting to watch. You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He's likely to jump down the wicket to the fast bowlers, or he'll play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect, so it keeps the opposition on their toes." Chappell made these remarks at a promotional event in Mumbai on Wednesday, June 25.

Drawing comparisons with another legendary wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, Chappell acknowledged Pant's dynamism.

He stated, "What an exciting cricketer, what a player to have on your team. When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist. You know the difference that it can make to a team to have a wicketkeeper that can bat at that level and score runs quickly."

Chappell also shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill's captaincy debut, expressing optimism about his future in the role. He stated, "It was a terrific Test match. Sadly, India didn't finish up on the correct side, but there were a lot of good things that they did. Shubman Gill had a great start to his career as a Test match captain. As a player, maybe the result didn't go the right way, but conditions were probably better for him on the last day than they were at any other stage in the Test match."

Chappell concluded, "So he will have learned a lot from that. The Indian think tank will have learned a lot from what happened in the Test match. He will only get better and better as a captain. Had the team taken a few more catches and, maybe, if the tail had wagged a bit stronger in both innings, the result could have been very different. But I think there are four Test matches to go. Let's wait and see, but I think he made a very good start as captain."