IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant is most valuable player in modern-day test cricket, asserts Aakash Chopra

Rishabh Pant scored 60 runs in the first innings of the third IND vs NZ test in Mumbai.

Day two of the third test of the IND vs NZ series saw Rishabh Pant drag India out of trouble with his blistering half-century.

Pant came to the crease after India’s late collapse on day one. The dramatic Indian batting collapse saw the Asian giants lose three quick wickets to slip from 78/1 to 84/4 in the last 10 minutes of the day.

Pant’s aggressive approach set the tone for India’s comeback in the first innings. The Indian wicket-keeper combined with Shubman Gill (90) to post a 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Pant created history with his explosive half-century off 36 balls, registering the fastest fifty by an Indian batter against the Kiwis in tests.

Pant’s brilliance with the bat helped Indian team to take a valuable 28-run lead in the second innings.

Pant is the most valuable player in test cricket: Aakash Chopra

Following Pant’s innings, former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra praised Rishabh Pant’s aggressive approach in test cricket, labelling him the “most valuable player in test cricket.”

Speaking on Jio Cinema during the game Aakash said, “I believe he is the most valuable player in modern-day test cricket. Not just in India, but across the world. Let’s forget Bazball, that’s all talk. Look at the consistency with which Rishabh Pant is playing. He is adding so much value to test cricket with the way he is entertaining the fans. I think he will define this generation in Test cricket.”

Pant is like Virender Sehwag

Aakash also highlighted Pant’s similarity with that of legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag. Speaking about Pant’s aggressive approach against the spinners, Aakash said, “He is like Virender Sehwag. Sehwag used to smash off-spinners. Pant is doing the same to left-arm spinners. If he is facing a left-arm spinner, he hits them out of the park, regardless of the conditions and the size of the ground.”

Pant has earned a name for himself in the test arena. Pant has played 37 test matches for India, scoring 2629 runs at an excellent batting average of 43.

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