Ian Smith Predicts Rishabh Pant Will Be A Big Name In Indian Cricket Soon

Former New Zealand cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Smith has backed Rishabh Pant, for greatness while going on to add that he will become a big name in Indian cricket in the foreseeable future. Pant has so far, struggled to deliver on the early promise, and has been under the scanner after an underwhelming few months.

The 22-year-old Pant was brought into the team, as an eventual replacement for former skipper MS Dhoni. After the 2019 World Cup, Pant was even promoted as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper.

However, since then, things have only gone downhill for the left-handed batsman.

Nonetheless, Smith, a former New Zealand skipper has shown faith in the Delhi-based cricketer while saying that Pant will become a big name in the future.

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The name of Rishabh Pant will be bigger in Indian cricket: Ian Smith

The 63-year-old commentator in his interview lavished praise on the Indian middle-order batsman while saying that he is currently in a learning phase, and with time Pant will get better.

“We are going to see a lot of Pant. It’s not about just playing the game but living it. Maybe, he has to learn a few things and they [team management] are teaching him the virtues of patience. The name of Rishabh Pant will be bigger in Indian cricket. Mark my words,” Smith said as quoted by Mid-Day.

Pant has scored just 374 runs in ODIs, so far at an average of 26.7, while the story is similar in T20I cricket as well, where his career average stands at 20.5.

Things do not seem to be working in Pant’s favour, as he was handed a start in the first Test versus New Zealand, much to the surprise of everyone, but he had to sacrifice his wicket after a miscommunication with Ajinkya Rahane, having scored just 19 runs.

The left-handed batter Pant fared much better in the second innings, scoring 25 runs, but his misfortunes continued as Pant could score just 12 runs in the first innings on Day 1 of the second Test in Christchurch.

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