Maxwell has come out in praise of this Indian player ahead of the third test between India and Australia at the MCG in Melbourne.
Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has been in the headlines in the ongoing test series between India and Australia with his wicketkeeping and incessant chirping behind the stumps. The 21 year old, however, is yet to prove his worth with the bat in the ongoing series, having scored just 119 runs at an average of 29.75 in the four test innings in the tour so far. The wicketkeeper’s batting could nonetheless prove to be decisive in the second half of the four match series with the conditions expected to get more batting friendly at the MCG and the SCG.
Australian all rounder Glenn Maxwell has termed the Indian wicketkeeper and former Delhi Daredevils teammate in the last season of the Indian Premier League as an exceptional talent who is just starting to find his feet at the international level. Maxwell, who will be captaining the Melbourne Stars in the ongoing edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), believes that the southpaw hasn’t quite utilized his potential in international cricket so far. Maxwell however admitted that the 21 year old was a treat to watch when in full flow.
“He’s an amazing talent. We have only seen him scratch the surface in terms of his ability. I’ve been glued to my TV every time he’s come out to bat … if he does get going, it’s pretty good to watch. He’s extremely talented … he played some extraordinary innings for us over there,” Maxwell told the reporters on Thursday.
“He got an amazing hundred, where he just kept reserve-scooping balls with a straight bat, over third man for six. I think he was a gymnast growing up, so he’s extremely flexible. He can manipulate his body into different positions to hit the ball,” Maxwell added.
On being asked about Pant’s incessant chatter behind the stumps, Maxwell said, “He speaks a fair amount of dross. Having spent the whole IPL with him, I certainly learned that first hand .. I used to hear it all the time in the change rooms, at training. It was pretty nonstop. We were pretty close during the IPL, which was nice.”
The third test match between India and Australia gets underway at the MCG on December 6. The series currently stands perfectly in balance at 1-1. The visitors will be looking to bounce back after the loss in Perth to take an unassailable 2-1 lead en route to their first ever test series victory on Australian soil. The hosts, on the other hand, will be keen to continue their winning momentum in the four test series.
