Rishabh Pant is the most valuable player in Test cricket today because of the consistent entertainment he provides, former India opener Aakash Chopra has said. Pant was at his best on Saturday, helping India recover from a difficult situation on Day 2 of the third and final Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Rishabh Pant, who came into bat on Friday night after 15 minutes of madness from the Indian cricket team, was tasked with the responsibility of starting the day well with the bat. Pant did just that but in his own style as he punched left-armer Ajaz Patel for two boundaries in the first over of the day’s play.

Mumbai Test, IND v NZ Day 2: Updates

Pant continued to be aggressive against the New Zealand spinners, denying the visiting bowlers any success in the first hour of the day’s play. Pant and Shubman Gill added 96 runs for the fifth wicket, keeping the team out of trouble after collapsing from 78 for 1 to 84 for 4 in the space of 15 minutes on Day 1 evening.

“I think he is the most valuable player in modern Test cricket. Not just in India but in the whole world. Let’s forget Bazball, that’s what it’s about. Look at the consistency with which Rishabh Pant plays. He adds so much a lot of value for Test cricket with the way he entertains the fans, I think he will define this generation in Test cricket,” Aakash Chopra told JioCinema.

Rishabh Pant hit a record breaking 36 ball fifty for the fastest fifty by an Indian batsman in Test cricket against New Zealand. Pant missed an opportunity to reach a three-figure score as he fell for 60 before Lunch to leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.

“THE SLIP IS LIKE VIRENDER SEHWAG”

Chopra, meanwhile, praised Pant’s ability to dominate the left-arm spinners, likening him to Virender Sehwag.

“I don’t think batting involves a lot of thinking…, I’m talking about when you’re in the middle. It’s about execution. You do your thinking and planning before heading to the middle. When you’re in the middle. , it’s about reacting to situations. You have to see the ball and react very well with a lot of belief.

“He is like Virender Sehwag. Sehwag used to smash the off-spinners. Pant does the same with the left-arm spinners. If he faces a left-arm spinner, he hits them out of the park, regardless of the conditions and the size of the ground,” he added.

Rishabh Pant has been in sensational form since his return to Test cricket. He scored a hundred in his comeback Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. He hit a 99 against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, continuing where he left off against Bangladesh.

Pant was singled out for missing out on a big score as India were in the driver’s seat after dominating the first session on Day 2 of the third Test.