Farokh Engineer finds similarity in MS Dhoni’s and Rishabh Pant’s approach

01/10/2019

Farokh Engineer has opined that Rishabh Pant’s approach to the game is exactly the same as that of MS Dhoni. The former wicketkeeper has also added that he wonders whom will the selectors pick for the upcoming cricket World Cup after Pant’s brilliant batting in Test matches in Australia.

Pant's excellent batting since his debut earlier last year has resulted in the Delhi youngster getting a lot of people praising him. After scoring a hundred in England, he also managed to get a couple of scores of 92 runs against the Windies and in the final Test match against Australia, he scored an unbeaten 159. However, the selectors went ahead with Dhoni for the ODI series against the Aussies starting from January 12. While many people are already comparing him with Dhoni, former India wicketkeeper Engineer has also come out to praise the youngster by saying that both of them have the same approach.

"Rishabh reminds me of my younger days. His approach is same as (MS) Dhoni's. Encourage him by all means, But don't praise him sky-high at the moment. His wicket-keeping needs to improve a lot. It is technically so incorrect. Give him time. He will become good. He's young. he will learn from his mistakes," Engineer told TOI.

"I was commentating in England then and Dhoni came to me and I gave him a few tips. I wish I could have a couple of sessions with Pant. He would come out a hundred million times better wicketkeeper. He snatches the ball, gets up too early, does not move his feet. In England, he would dive when the ball would move to the leg-side. A good wicket-keeper doesn't dive all the time, he moves his feet."

With the selectors bringing Dhoni back in the limited overs squad after giving him a rest during the three-match T20I series, Pant will now represent India A against the England Lions in a five-match limited overs series. Engineer asked the selectors that how can they drop someone like Pant who has done exceedingly well.

"The question for the Indian selectors is now: Would you pick Dhoni for the World Cup (in England this summer)? How can you drop Pant? He's done so well," asked the former wicketkeeper.

Speaking about Pant’s batting, Engineer, who played for the Indian team in the 1960s and 70s, stated, "I love his approach to batting. These days, there are no wicketkeeper-batsmen. There are only batsmen-wicketkeepers. That's the demand of T20 cricket, but in Tests, you need a proper 'keeper, because the catches don't come very often.”

Farokh Engineer finds similarity in MS Dhoni’s and Rishabh Pant’s approach

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