'I used to cry & couldn't breathe' - Rishabh Pant reveals having mental breakdown after MS Dhoni comparisons
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was one of the heroes for India in the historic Test win at the Gabba in 2021. He was a first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for India before he got injured in a near-fatal car accident in December 2022. Rishabh Pant has revealed that he was not able to handle the pressure in the early days of his cricketing career. Pant, in an interview with Star Sports, said that he used to have a mental breakdown after being constantly compared with MS Dhoni. He used to go back to his room after matches and cry.
Rishabh Pant, who is currently recovering from his injury sustained due to his accident, said that he never understood the comparisons between Dhoni and him. MS Dhoni is a legend of the game and is the best wicketkeeper of all time. He has led the Indian team to three ICC titles and is the only captain to win three different ICC titles. He won the 2007 inaugural T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
“First of all, I didn’t understand why questions were raised. I had just made it to the team, and people were talking about being a replacement. Why were people raising such questions at a youngster? Why are you comparing? There shouldn’t be any comparison at all. Some have played five matches and the others have played 500,” Pant told Star Sports.
“It’s been such a long journey, so many ups and downs, so the comparison is not fair. I used to really feel very bad. I used to go back to my room and cry at 20-21 years of age. Under stress, I couldn’t breathe. So much pressure and I didn’t know what to do. I missed a stumping in Mohali, and the crowd started to chant ‘Dhoni Dhoni’,” he further added.
Rishabh Pant And MS Dhoni Have A Very Good Chemistry Between Each Other
The constant comparisons between Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni did not sour their own chemistry. Pant said that Dhoni is one of his closest acquaintances and he confides in the former India captain. He said that he had discussed those things with MS Dhoni which he didn’t discuss with anyone.
“I always find it difficult to explain my relationship with MS Dhoni. There are some with whom you can talk freely. I discuss everything with MSD. I have learned so much from him. I discuss things with him that I wouldn’t discuss with anybody else. That’s the kind of relationship with him,” Pant said in the same interview.
