Dhoni shows the way: Pant

London:Touted as a potential successor to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps, Rishabh Pant says the former India captain has helped shape quite a few things in his nascent career, ranging from his IPL contracts to hand-head coordination while keeping. “Whenever I needed any support from Mahi bhai, I used to ask him. From my IPL contract to my wicketkeeping, he’s advised me on everything,” the 20-year-old Pant told bcci.tv.
“He always tells me that when it comes to wicketkeeping, your hands and head coordination is important, the body balance can come into play later. The advice has helped me a lot,” said the left-hander.
The youngster was not picked for the limited-overs leg of the England tour despite a stellar IPL show, but earned his maiden call-up in Tests through his gritty performances with the A team. “Every time I come to the Indian dressing room, there is one thing that has always stood out for me. It is the positivity in the dressing room. Everyone is supporting and backing each other,” he said.
Pant also received praise from India A coach Rahul Dravid for his performance in England. “The only thing Dravid tells me is that you need to be patient about everything, be it on the field or off it. Also, how I need to work harder on my game when it comes to red ball cricket since I’m a positive batsman, but at times you need to play as per the situation,” said Pant.
The fact that he has been playing in England for a while has prepared him well for the Test series. Dinesh Karthik is the first-choice keeper in the absence of Wriddhiman Saha, so it remains to be seen if Pant will get his big break.