Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni! Basit Ali settles greatest wicketkeeper debate with blunt remarks
Published - 23 Sep 2024, 07:58 PM | Updated - 23 Sep 2024, 11:40 PM
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Former Pakistan National Cricket Team batter Basit Ali opened up about the comparison between MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. He said that there should be no comparison at all as Dhoni has achieved a lot for the India National Cricket Team while Pant is still in the early days of his career.
Young India wicketkeeper Pant has made huge strides in international cricket, especially in Test format. Also, his record in the longest format of the game has been exceptional and is already better than some of the greats of Indian cricket.
Basit Ali Weighs In On Pant vs Dhoni Debate
Notably, Pant has won India numerous games in overseas conditions and has slammed Test centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa, which no Indian wicketkeeper has done. He made a comeback to Test cricket in the recently concluded first Test against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team.
And it was a grand return for him in the Test cricket. After playing a valuable knock of 39 runs, he slammed a terrific century in the second innings. The keeper-batter played an attacking innings and slammed 109 runs that helped India win the game and go 1-0 up in the two-match Test series.
With Rishabh Pant delivering consistent performances for the team in Test cricket, this had made many compare him with MS Dhoni. Few even rated him as better than the keeper-batter, and the debate has taken the spotlight all over the internet.
However, Basit Ali wasn't happy with the comparison between Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni. He highlighted the contribution of the latter to the Indian team and stated that the youngster is performing and people should let him focus on his game.
Moreover, he cited examples of people comparing Shubman Gill with Virat Kohli, Basit Ali stressed that if both Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni come to the same ground, the support will tell who is ahead. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:
"I don't know how these things come to your mind. Is Rishabh Pant better than MS Dhoni? Please forgive me, MS Dhoni was a leader. He won the India World Cup, Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup. Rishabh Pant is performing now, let him focus on the game. What kind of sentences are these? I will give two small examples. Those who want to understand, please understand.
"Will you compare Virat Kohli with Gill? Everyone will say, no. At this time, MS Dhoni has left all the cricket except IPL. Even now when MS. Dhoni comes to the ground, claps will tell you about his craze. On the same ground, Rishabh Pant will also come. This is how I will make you decide. Leave the performance."
There should be no comparison - Basit Ali on Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni
Furthermore, Basit Ali added that Rishabh Pant should continue playing like he is doing and when he ends his career then only comparison will be justified. Also, he said that things take place through proper channels in Indian cricket while it isn't the case in Pakistan. He further elaborated:
"The performance that has happened now, let it happen more. When Rishabh Pant is at the end of his career, there will be a comparison then only. Do you understand my brothers? There should be no comparison. Dhoni was the leader.
After Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly brought the boys. With Sourav came MS and brought the boys. Through proper channels, a system is going on. Our (Pakistan's) captains, do not let the players come so that they do not lose their place. There is a difference, in Indian and Pakistani cricket. It is a painful thing, but it is the truth," he concluded.
