“Rishabh Pant Is Reinventing Batting”: Greg Chappell Showers Praise After Twin Tons vs England
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell has lavished praise on Rishabh Pant, calling the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman a revolutionary figure in modern-day Test cricket. Chappell’s remarks come in the wake of Pant’s breathtaking twin centuries in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
Pant scored 134 runs in the first innings and followed it up with an electric 118 in the second, becoming only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to notch up a hundred in both innings of a match — joining Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower in that exclusive club.
“Reinventing the Game”
Speaking at a promotional event organized by str8bat, Chappell highlighted the unconventional yet effective stroke-play Pant brought to the table.
“He is really reinventing the game as a batsman. Some of the shots he played weren’t even in the MCC playing manual. When I first saw him, he reminded me of Adam Gilchrist — not identical, but that same game-changing aura,” Chappell said.
He added that Pant’s aggressive style not only makes him a crowd favorite but also provides a tactical edge to the Indian team:
“The beauty is Rishabh gets runs at a very fast rate which gives you time to win cricket matches. He is exciting to watch, and with modern bats and confidence, he’s expanding the possibilities of what can be done at the crease.”
Unpredictability as a Weapon
Chappell emphasized how Pant’s unpredictable nature makes him a nightmare for opposing bowlers:
“You never quite know what to expect from him from the first ball. He can charge a fast bowler or play an audacious ramp shot — anything can happen. He’s a match-winner and very nearly turned the result in India’s favor.”
Support for Shubman Gill’s Captaincy
The Australian legend also commended Shubman Gill’s debut as India’s Test captain, even though the team narrowly lost the Headingley Test by five wickets.
“It was a terrific Test match. Sadly, India didn’t finish on the correct side of the ledger, but there were a lot of positives. Gill had a great start as captain and player. He’ll only get better.”
Chappell acknowledged the nuances of captaincy and believed that the match offered learning moments for the young skipper and India’s team management.
“Had India held on to their catches or gotten more support from the lower order, the outcome could’ve been different. But Gill’s leadership showed promise.”
As India prepares for the second Test at Edgbaston, starting July 2, all eyes will once again be on Rishabh Pant — the fearless innovator who, according to Chappell, is “changing the way the game is played.”
