Rishabh Pant made a stellar return to Test cricket, smashing a brilliant century that led India to a commanding win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. His outstanding performance earned widespread praise, reigniting the debate over whether Pant could eventually rival MS Dhoni as India’s greatest wicket-keeper batter.
However, former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith believes Pant still has some distance to cover before reaching Dhoni’s level. Smith highlighted that Dhoni’s "hero factor" makes it challenging for anyone to surpass him, at least for now. "Pant has massive shoes to fill. When you talk about the 'hero factor,' it’s tough to look beyond MS Dhoni. Pant's life could change significantly with continued success, but for now, Dhoni remains in a league of his own," Smith remarked.
Despite the comparison, Smith is impressed with Pant’s attitude and fighting spirit. "Rishabh Pant has that fearless edge. While he’s not yet the best wicket-keeper, he’s improving. I see him as a Gilchrist-like figure, and I rate him very highly," Smith added, praising Pant’s ongoing development both as a wicketkeeper and a batter.
As Pant continues to make his mark in Indian cricket, the debate over his legacy in comparison to Dhoni adds an intriguing dimension to the conversation about India’s all-time best wicket-keeper batter.