Greg Chappell Hails Rishabh Pant's "Game-Changing" Innings, Draws Adam Gilchrist Comparison

Rishabh Pant scored smashing centuries in both innings against England (Image via AP/Scott Heppell)

Former India coach and Australian cricketing legend Greg Chappell has showered praise on Rishabh Pant, following the wicketkeeper-batter’s remarkable twin centuries at Headingley. Chappell hailed Pant as a game-changer, drawing parallels between his impact and that of Australian icon Adam Gilchrist.

Pant, who now serves as India’s Test vice-captain, etched his name in history by becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter, after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, to achieve the feat of scoring a century in both innings of a Test match. His explosive batting display was a major highlight of the series opener at Headingley, despite India's eventual five-wicket defeat to the hosts on Day 5.

“The beauty of it (Pant’s batting) is that he gets his runs at a very fast rate, which gives you time to win cricket matches. It was a phenomenal performance; some of the shots that he played probably weren’t in the MCC coaching manual when I last looked at it," Chappell remarked at a recent event in Mumbai.

Chappell believes that Pant is revolutionizing Test batting with his fearless approach, effectively utilizing modern bats and his innate talent.

“He is reinventing the game as a batter. You know, modern technology, the bats are very different. You can play shots that weren’t possible with the old bats. But man, he’s exciting to watch,” he added.

Pant's ability to keep bowlers guessing has also impressed Chappell. “You never quite know what to expect from the first ball at any stage. He’s likely to jump down the wicket to the pacers, or he’ll play the falling ramp shot. You never quite know what to expect, so it keeps the opposition on their toes,” he explained.

Recalling his initial impressions of the left-handed batsman, Chappell stated, “When I first saw him, he was a different sort of player, of course, but he reminded me very much of Adam Gilchrist.”

Pant’s twin centuries have propelled him to a career-best seventh position in the ICC Test rankings for batters. India is aiming to capitalize on his explosive form in the second Test, scheduled to begin on July 2. A victory would level the series for the visitors.