Rishabh Pant an infectious character and serious cricketer: Ricky Ponting

Rishabh Pant is known to have some fun behind the wickets. Recently, in the Duleep Trophy, he was seen having a light moment with Kuldeep Yadav, asking him to get out as the left-arm wrist spinner continued to frustrate. However, former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting says no team should take him lightly because of his light-hearted nature. 

"We've all seen him play and heard him in the stump mic, he's an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he's a winner, that's what he is. He doesn't just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it," Ponting said on Sky Sports. 

"He must have 4 or 5 Test hundreds already, and he's got about nine 90s as well. [MS] Dhoni played for 120 Tests [90] and made three or four hundreds [6], this is how good this guy [Pant] is. He's a serious cricketer."

Pant was involved in a serious car crash in December 2022, and one thought he would be out of the game for a long time. However, the wicketkeeper-batter worked hard on his recovery and returned to lead Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year. Ponting, Pant's coach at DC, is impressed with the way that the 26-year-old bounced back to not just participate in the IPL but went on to win the T20 World Cup and now is part of the Test team to face Bangladesh as well.

"It's a remarkable comeback. If you can see even his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that, but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn't think he would play last year's IPL [2024]," Ponting said.

"But 12 months before, he said, 'Don't worry about me, I guarantee you I'll be right for the IPL'. We thought he'll be able to bat, and we might have to use him as a sub player [Impact Player], but he kept every game, was one of our leading run-scorers, bats No. 3 in the T20 World Cup and is part of a World Cup winning team and is named in the Test squad now."

Pant made a successful return to domestic cricket in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored 61 in the second innings during the first round. He will not be part of the second round as he has been picked for the two-match Test series agianst Bangladesh, starting September 19 in Chennai.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.