IND vs AUS: "No One Can Replace Him" - Ian Chappell On Rishabh Pant's Absence From The India-Australia Test Series

Updated - 29 Jan 2023, 12:13 PM

Ian Chappell. Image-Twitter.

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Ian Chappell elaborated on how India may suffer as a result of Rishabh Pant’s absence in the next Test series against Australia.
Next month, Team India will face a severe test in the longest format of the game when they play Australia in a four-match series.

Rishabh Pant, one of India’s most dependable players in the format, suffered serious injuries in a vehicle accident last month, dealing a serious blow to the team’s chances of winning the series. The India wicketkeeper-batter, who suffered injuries to his head, back, and leg, is not in danger, but he will be out of the game for a considerable amount of time.

India has included Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat as backup wicketkeepers for the first two Test matches in place of Pant, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper, but Australia icon Ian Chappell thinks the team will still be without him.

Ian Chappell praised Pant, saying that no batter can match Pant’s “desire to dominate bowlers.”India has some points to prove as well, not the least of which is how Pant’s replacement performs. The primary thing that Pant’s absence will cost India is an exceptional run rate that resulted from his aggressive approach”

“No one can match Pant’s ambition to dominate bowlers, thus India must rely on their top hitters to not only perform but also sustain a high strike rate, “Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.

“Australia can’t rely on Lyon to claim regular wickets”: Ian Chappell

As India’s great three prepare to take on Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, Ian Chappell also gave them a task. These players are Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara.

“One of the most important challenges for Indian players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara would be to establish mental dominance over Lyon. If Australia can’t rely on Lyon claiming regular wickets at an acceptable rate, their bowling will be heavily reliant on the “big three,” Ian Chappell stated.

India, which is presently ranked second in the rankings with 58.93 percentage points, will need to win the Test series in order to have a chance of competing in the World Test Championship final, which will take place in June of this year. Australia, on the other hand, has a comfortable lead with 75.56 percentage points.

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