Rishabh Pant reveals MS Dhoni’s mentoring helped him improve his wicket-keeping

07/24/2018

Rishabh Pant, who got included in the Test squad for the England series, revealed that MS Dhoni has mentored him all along the way and helped him in improving his cricket. He stated that he doesn’t see much difference between red ball and white ball and is happy with his preparation for the series.

All that MS Dhoni has done for Indian cricket, he has also ensured that an entire generation of wicket-keepers in India remain backups for a decade. But with him having given up the Test format, the backups have rotated diligently among themselves to share duties over the last season. And Rishabh Pant has ticked all the right boxes at the right time to grab the understudy spot. Pant revealed that Dhoni has been the go-to person for him in the team and has helped him in growing as a cricketer.

"Every time I come to the Indian dressing room, there is one thing that has always stood out for me. It is the positivity in the dressing room. Everyone is supporting and backing each other, which is the most important factor about this Indian dressing room. Similarly, with Mahi bhai, I used to ask him everything from my IPL contract to my wicket-keeping. He's advised me on everything,” Pant said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"He's always told me that when it comes to wicket-keeping, your hands and head is important, the body balance can come into play later, but the key is the hands and head coordination. I worked on what he told me and it has helped me a lot."

A lot of cricketing pundits have been calling for Pant's inclusion as a permanent fixture across formats in the Indian squad since his stellar domestic season, where he took up Delhi's captaincy and finished with over 900 runs in the 2017-18 season of the Ranji Trophy, before translating the same form in the IPL. Pant stated that he doesn't see a difference in his preparations when it comes to the white-ball and red-ball cricket, or for that matter with Indian and English conditions.

"I reckon there isn't too much difference, but it has got more to do with shot selection. In red ball cricket, with the field placements, you can look around; take your time, because you have five days to play. Whereas in limited overs cricket you have limited number of balls to play and score.

"I have so far enjoyed my preparation with red ball cricket. The Duke ball swings a lot when you're here in England and initially when I started playing here with India A, I realized that the swing will come a lot into play in these conditions," he explained.

Having been with Rahul Dravid ever since his under-19 days, including a couple of seasons when they were together in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils, Pant revealed how the former Indian captain has helped him in improving different aspects of the game.

"The only thing he always tells me is that you need to be patient about everything, be it on the field or off it. Also, how I need to work harder on my game when it comes to red ball cricket since I'm a positive batsman, but at times you need to play to the situation. See the pace of the game and change your game accordingly. These have been my learning from him wherein he has helped me a lot," he noted.

With a gruelling tour ahead, it could only be a matter of time before the understudy is thrown into the deep. And it could well be this confidence that manages to keep him afloat. India would play five Test matches in England, starting on August 1 in Birmingham.

Rishabh Pant reveals MS Dhoni’s mentoring helped him improve his wicket-keeping

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