Published: Sep 07, 2025, 09:07 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2025, 09:07 PM (IST)
Rishabh Pant is often regarded as one of the most entertaining batsmen in contemporary cricket. The 27-year-old is known for his aggressive approach against both fast and slow bowlers. In both international and IPL matches, it is common to see him advance down the track against pacers and hit boundaries.
Pant’s debut in the IPL in 2016 marked the beginning of his remarkable journey as a player, and he has consistently proven his worth by scoring match-winning runs.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar shared an unusual conversation he had with Ashish Nehra, a former India and Delhi cricketer, regarding Rishabh Pant’s future. Bangar mentioned that Nehra believed Pant would ‘progress very quickly and is a naturally gifted batter.’
Nehra also commented on Pant’s ‘fearless’ nature during his early playing days. He recalled how Pant would challenge ‘bowlers to bowl quickly and attack his body’ in the nets. Nehra made this observation when Pant was just beginning his career in the IPL.
“I had heard from Ashish Nehra that Rishabh is a very good player who’s going to progress very quickly. He is a naturally gifted batter. But, he’s also very fearless. I saw the first sign of his fearlessness in the nets itself. He used to tell the bowlers to bowl quickly and attack his body. Very few batters have had this mindset. He had just begun playing the IPL back then. So Nehra’s assessment was correct. After a long time, we’ve found a wicketkeeper who can bat in the top-5,” he said.
After the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant was appointed as the vice-captain for India’s red-ball cricket team. He also serves as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG acquired him for ₹27 crore during the 2025 auction. Additionally, he was a member of the Indian team that secured victories in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
