'Rishabh Pant is the backbone of the team': Suresh Raina

Time of India

16 hours ago

(AP Photo)
At just 27,
Rishabh Pant
has become one of India's most crucial assets in Test cricket—whether he's behind the stumps or not.
A finger injury sustained during the third Test at Lord's ruled him out of wicketkeeping duties for the remainder of the match.
But the team management's reported willingness to consider him solely as a batter for the Manchester Test speaks volumes about Pant's stature in red-ball cricket.
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Few wicketkeepers command such a distinction. Even legends like Kumar Sangakkara and AB de Villiers made a gradual shift to full-time batting roles later in their careers. Pant, however, is already earning that consideration at 27—right in the thick of his physical and creative prime.
Since debuting in 2018, Pant has delivered defining knocks across the globe: a century at The Oval, a counterpunching gem in Sydney, and the unforgettable 89* at Brisbane. His away record rivals that of the finest Indian keeper-batters.
But what truly separates Pant from others is how he shapes the outcome of matches. He not only endures difficult phases but often seizes them with game-changing clarity.
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As Sanjay Manjrekar observed, 'What I loved in this series was Rishabh Pant showing that he can also bat like Cheteshwar Pujara.
There is a solid defence. There is a temperament to play the waiting game. He is not just a dasher anymore.' That transformation has elevated Pant's value as a red-ball cricketer.
The unwavering trust shown by team management—right from his traumatic car accident in 2022 to his successful return in IPL 2024—has only grown stronger.
His dedication to fitness and tactical acumen has been acknowledged widely. India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate recently stated, 'I don't think one is going to keep Rishabh out of the Test, no matter what.
He batted with quite a lot of pain in the third Test and it's only going to get easier and easier on his finger.'
'Keeping is obviously the last part of the process to make sure that he can keep.'
Heading into the fifth Test against England, the idea of playing him purely as a batter is not just a stopgap—it's a tactical decision.
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In an era where India has experimented with multiple keeper-batters, Pant has stood out with consistent and match-winning contributions.
Even without the gloves, his place in the XI feels unquestioned—an extremely rare position in Indian Test cricket.
Suresh Raina
praised Pant, saying, 'Rishabh is the backbone of the team. He keeps the energy going from behind the stumps, helping with bowlers like Jadeja and Washington. But when he comes on to bat, no matter the situation, he plays freely. Even the opposition fielders take a step back. There's no stopping him.'
As India brace for a must-win showdown at Old Trafford, Pant's presence could provide the middle order with much-needed stability—especially after a lacklustre outing by several senior batters at Lord's.
His aggressive instincts against the second new ball could prove decisive in swinging momentum.
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Raina further added, 'He is a once in a generation player who got the backing of his captain and selectors. The way
Rohit Sharma
supported him, gave him liberty to play his natural game, that is where the magic lies.'
Regardless of whether he features as a specialist batter or a keeper, the mere discussion around Pant's dual threat marks a new milestone in his journey.
From a bold youngster to now being hailed as India's greatest Test wicketkeeper, Pant is moving into an elite bracket—where performance, not position, earns you your spot.
'His off-stump game, the one-handed sixes, the defence and shots in the 'V'—all of it speaks to how clear his mind is,' Raina noted. 'Even in tough spells, like against Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes, he manoeuvred them smartly, waiting for his moment.'
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