Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is certainly one of the most respected cricketers around the world. The impact Dhoni had on the game with both bat and wicket-keeping gloves was unparalleled. When Dhoni had retired from international cricket, the question about the ‘Next MS Dhoni’ was doing the rounds among the cricketing fraternity.
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India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has been considered as Dhoni’s successor on the back of multiple opportunities across formats. Pant had burst into the scene after his excellent performance for Delhi Capitals [then Daredevils] in Indian Premier League 2018. He had scored 684 runs at an average of 52.61 with the help of a century and five half-centuries.
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Pant was a part of the Indian ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 squad as well, but he could not deliver as per the expectations. Replacing a player like Dhoni is an uphill task for any individual, and Pant was failing to utilize his chances. Although he was doing well in the Test format back then, his white-ball game wasn’t up to the mark.
How Gautam Gambhir wanted Rishabh Pant to create own identity
Former India batter Gautam Gambhir had once said that Pant should not be compared to Dhoni. He had insisted that Pant cannot ever become Dhoni, and the media people also should refrain from doing the same. According to Gambhir, Pant should not copy anyone and become the best version of himself.
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“First of all, you have to stop saying that Rishabh Pant is the next MS Dhoni. That is one thing that the media needs to stop doing it. The more the media talks about it, the more Rishabh Pant starts thinking about those chances. He can never be MS Dhoni. He has to be Rishabh Pant,” Gambhir had said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Gambhir said that Dhoni had a lot of range when he made his debut for India, whereas Pant is a raw talent and needs time to get going.
Gautam Gambhir was Pant’s captain in IPL 2018
Gambhir and Pant were both part of Daredevils in IPL 2018, and Gambhir was the captain of the side. However, due to poor results, he stepped down from his role midway through the tournament.
Both of them have played for Delhi in domestic cricket as well. In fact, when Pant scored the second fastest century of T20 cricket, Gambhir was at the non-striker’s end.
