'Cast your own identity', Brad Haddin advises dejected Pant
Former Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin believes Rishabh Pant should bring out his x-factor in order to make a comeback in the Indian side. The 22-year-old was replaced by KL Rahul after he suffered a concussion in the first ODI against Australia earlier this year. Rahul, who was drafted as Pant's replacement, has been the preferred wicket-keeper in the limited-overs format. Here is more.
I did not try to become Adam Gilchrist: Haddin
"You bring your own style to the team. When I first got my opportunity to play Test cricket, I couldn't try to be Adam Gilchrist. I had to bring my own unique style to the game. You have to be true to yourself," Haddin said.
Pant is undergoing a lean patch
Rishabh Pant's confidence has undoubtedly plummeted across formats with a string of low scores. An untimely concussion further made life difficult for the budding wicket-keeper. He has been warming the bench ever since. Pant could muster only 60 runs from four innings in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The southpaw averaged 27.72 and 21 in ODIs and T20Is respectively last year.
Pant's uncanny records in Test cricket
Pant holds the record of most dismissals (11) in a Test by an Indian wicket-keeper. He achieved the feat during the Australian tour in 2018. Earlier that year, he also became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in England.
Haddin terms Australia favorites for the T20 World Cup title
Haddin feels that Australia will always cherish the home advantage in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2020. "It's going to be interesting. I think the beauty of the T20 competition is that once you shorten the event, there's five or six teams that can win it. We've got a great opportunity playing on a home soil, so we understand our conditions well," Haddin said.
Pant was touted as MS Dhoni's successor
Haddin pointed out how Pant needs to grow his own space in the team after the services of MS Dhoni. "India have been blessed to have a superstar in Dhoni. It's important whoever takes over from that role, creates their own identity," Haddin said. He added, "It's up to them to put their own style and what they want to create as a keeper."
