However, when it comes to limited-overs, Bhatia feels that till the time Dhoni is around there is no need to even discuss any one else for that role, especially till the ICC World Cup in England in 2019.
“I feel that as long as Indian team will stick to Dhoni, you cannot say anything,” Bhatia told CricketCountry.com. “We are sure that Dhoni is going to play the World Cup and as long as he is there, there is no point discussing any other keeper.”
The 39-year-old though feels that among the current crop of up and coming wicketkeepers in India, Pant is definitely leading the pack.
“But yes, after Dhoni, Rishabh is leading the pack so to speak among other wicketkeepers in India. And he has done well in the Test match and now has been picked for the ODIs,” said Bhatia, who has played 81 First Class matches for Delhi, but is representing new entrants Uttarakhand this domestic season.
The flamboyant batsman earned his maiden international cap in 2017 when he was picked for the home T20I series against England after clobbering a triple century and 48-ball hundred in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season.
Dinesh Karthik’s poor run of form in the England series led to Pant’s Test debut and after scores of 24, 1, 0, 18 and 5, he notched up his maiden Test hundred in the final Test at the Oval and went on to add twin scores of 92 in the West Indies series.
But Bhatia feels Pant has to find consistency in his batting and sometimes it is disappointing to see him get out to rash shots.
“When he played his first Test, it looked like it would be his last, but he got a hundred in the last Test, said Bhatia, adding he that he hopes to see Pant batting according to his abilities.
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“I want him to perform according to his abilities. The way he plays [gets out], it disappoints you sometimes, be when he is scores, he gives you the excitement to watch. He definitely will be a star in the coming times,” added Bhatia.
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