Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Rishabh Pant’s knock after the wicket-keeper bat scored a fine knock of 74 runs off 112 balls against England on the third day of the third Test match at Lord’s.

The left-hander scored eight fours and two sixes in his impressive knock. Chopra noted that the only way Pant could have gotten out was a run-out. 

The southpaw wanted to give the strike to KL Rahul, who was on 98, before the lunch break. But Pant could not make his ground at the bowler’s end after England captain Ben Stokes came up with a direct hit.

Pant has been in solid form on the England tour, scoring 416 runs in five innings at an average of 83.20.

“Rishabh Pant, one more time. The only way he could have gotten out was a run-out. He keeps you on the tenterhooks. It seems like he can change the game, get out anytime, or hit a lot. However, he continues to play those valuable knocks,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra oncurred with former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently said that Pant should not be compared with Adam Gilchrist.

“How well he batted. He accelerates whenever he wishes, and he has got a good defense. Ashwin also said that he shouldn’t be compared with Gilchrist because Gilchrist was a smasher, but Pant is a smasher with a strong defense,” he observed.

On the other hand, former Indian fast bowler RP Singh said Pant has the ability to disturb the bowler’s line and length by dancing down the track.

“When he came to bat, I felt he would hold himself back a little and think about building a partnership. However, his shot selection was good. He always believes that he can spoil the bowler’s line and length by stepping out. Once he is able to hit shots like that, his batting comes to the fore,” Singh said on Sony Sports.

Pant added 141 runs with KL Rahul for the fourth wicket but his run out changed the momentum.