Rishabh Pant has often been seen as the natural successor to MS Dhoni but the debate around his consistency has followed him throughout his career.
As India gears up for the Asia Cup 2025, the wicketkeeper-batter finds himself back in the spotlight with two respected voices in Indian cricket: Sanjay Bangar and Ashish Nehra, once again backing him to take charge in the middle order.
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Their views not only highlight Pant's importance to the current setup but also revisit early predictions about his potential.
Sanjay Bangar sees Rishabh Pant as ideal fit in India's middle order
Speaking to reporters, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar explained that Pant's inclusion could bring the much-needed left-right combination in the batting order. He pointed out that Pant's strong start to this year's IPL underlined his value in the middle order.
"He addition of Pant would help the team find left and right batting combinations. I believe it's very important to have an optional left-hander because it helps balance the right-handers," said Bangar.
Ashish Nehra's fearless prediction on Rishabh Pant
Ashish Nehra threw his weight behind Pant but stressed that the choice depends on the format. According to Nehra - in Tests especially, Pant's ability to perform with the bat while handling wicket-keeping makes him standout.
"It depends on the format we are talking about. If we are talking about Test cricket, and if you want to go with the best wicket-keeper, you also have to consider the mindset of the captain and the coach. I agree with Sanjay Bangar, and I think they should go ahead with Rishabh Pant. The player must be supported when it comes to international cricket," said Nehra.
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While questions about his consistency remain, the continued support from figures like Bangar and Nehra underlines how highly Pant is rated within Indian cricket circles. With the Asia Cup fast approaching, Pant now has a chance to prove that he can fill Dhoni's shoes.