Early in his career, Rishabh Pant admitted to feeling the weight of unfair comparisons with MS Dhoni, sharing how the crowd’s taunts of “Dhoni, Dhoni” after a missed stumping left him in tears.
Early in his international career, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant endured the emotional toll of being constantly compared to the legendary MS Dhoni, leading him to tears in his room at the age of 20-21. In an interview with Star Sports, Pant vividly recalled instances when the crowd taunted him with ‘Dhoni Dhoni’ chants after missing a stumping chance in Mohali. Despite the challenges, Pant highlighted his deep bond with Dhoni, describing the former captain as someone with whom he can freely discuss everything.
“I used to really feel very bad. I used to go back to my room and cry at 20-21 years of age. Under stress, I couldn’t breathe. So much pressure, and I didn’t know what to do. I missed a stumping in Mohali, and the crowd started to chant ‘Dhoni Dhoni’,” Pant said.
“I always find it difficult to explain my relationship with MS. Dhoni. There are some with whom you can talk freely. I discuss everything with MSD. I have learned so much from him. I discuss things with him that I wouldn’t discuss with anybody else. That’s the kind of relationship (I have) with him,” he added.
As Pant entered the Indian cricket team during the final years of MS Dhoni’s career, he naturally inherited the role of his potential successor. However, the young wicketkeeper-batter, now 26, found the comparisons perplexing and unjustified, particularly given his early 20s age and limited international experience.
Pant also acknowledged the role of legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh in easing his transition into the national side. Despite being a young player surrounded by senior cricketers like Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, Pant felt welcomed and comfortable.
“At the start, I was very young, and there were a lot of senior players, a lot of them actually. Yuvraj Singh, MS were there, all seniors. It does take some time, but I didn’t get the feeling of them being super seniors. They were very welcoming and made me very comfortable. They make every new player very comfortable. This is the culture of the Indian team,” he concluded.
Last Updated on February 3, 2024
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