Replacing a player like legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni is one of the toughest jobs to do for any player. Not just he was one of the best-ever captains and batters but his work behind the stumps made him a package like no other. When Dhoni decided to step away from the game, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was seen as his replacement.
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Pant’s arrival in international cricket was not smooth at all, especially in white-ball formats. He used to make mistakes behind the wickets. Things went bad to worse when the crowd started giving stick to Pant. Whenever he used to make any mistake, the spectators on the ground used to chant Dhoni’s name to mock the rookie keeper.
One such incident happened in Rajkot during a match between India and Bangladesh. Pant missed a stumping of Bangladesh batter Litton Das. He dislodged the bails but his gloves were ahead of the wickets and that’s why it was deemed as a no-ball. After the crowd’s bashing, former Indian captain Virat Kohli came in his support.
When Virat Kohli Backed Rishabh Pant by Asking Fans to Not Chant MS Dhoni’s Name
Kohli addressed the reporters a few days after the incident where he lashed at the crowd for doing the same. He had said that the crowd should not disrespect a player like this. He insisted that the team completely trusts Pant and that’s why he has been given that number of opportunities.
The former RCB captain, Kohli, was firm in his opinion that the audience in the stands should remember that the player they are booing is representing the country. Earlier Indian captain Rohit Sharma had also offered his support to Pant.
“If he misses a chance or something, people can’t shout ‘MS!’ in the stadium. It’s not respectful, if I have to put it that way,” Kohli had told reporters.
“No player would like that to happen. If you’re playing in your own country, you should get support rather than always thinking what mistake is this guy going to make. No one wants to be in that position.”
Rishabh Pant’s Stature has Grown in International Cricket
In recent years, Pant has become an integral part of the Indian cricket team. The southpaw has improved a lot in his wicket-keeping, and he has played some match-winning innings with the bat as well. Pant’s numbers with the bat in white-ball formats don’t justify his potential, but he has been immensely effectice in red-ball cricket.
In a short span, he has scored Test centuries in England, Australia and South Africa. Dhoni played 90 Tests for India and he never managed to score a hundred in SENA countries. Pant is currently in his rehab phase after suffering a major accident last year. In his absence, the balance of India’s Test side has taken a big toll.
