India hasn’t produced a better keeper-batter than Rishabh Pant: Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has hailed Rishabh Pant as the best keeper-batter the country has produced thus far in the longest format of the game. Notably, Pant scored his third Test century in England in the ongoing Headingley Test against England.

Interestingly, Pant reached the milestone with a gigantic six, which caught the attention of Aakash Chopra. It’s important to note that Pant has Test centuries in England, Australia and South Africa, making him the most successful keeper-batter for India.

"Rishabh Pant has scored a century, and that too in his own style. He reached his hundred with a six, and then hit one more six. What Pant was doing against the second new ball towards the end of the first day's play, only he can do that. There should be no doubt about that," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"Since he was insisting a lot that the form isn't there and the bat is not striking the ball, I said that if you check India's Test history and be absolutely impartial, you would say that India hasn't produced a better wicketkeeper-batter than Rishabh Pant. He is the best already," Chopra added.

"He has scored centuries in Australia, England and South Africa, and one more here, reaching it with a six, and then you realize that he plays like this only. You will always see Rishabh Pant playing like this only," he stated.

Furthermore, Chopra asserted that Pant should be criticized when he doesn’t score runs in this particular format, and his playing style shouldn’t bother anyone much, as his playing style is comparatively different from other batters.

"Everyone should be criticized, whether their name is Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, or something else, but criticize him (Pant) if he doesn't score runs and not for how he gets out, because his playing style is very different. Since you and I don't understand it, we ask what sort of approach it is," Chopra concluded.

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