Rishabh Pant has a defensive technique similar to MS Dhoni: Sanjay Manjrekar

IND vs BAN: Rishabh Pant had a memorable day after he scored his sixth Test hundred in the series opener against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

In Short

• Rishabh Pant scored his sixth Test hundred on Saturday
• Pant made 109 runs in the second innings of the Chepauk Test
• Pant also built a big partnership with Shubman Gill

Sanjay Manjrekar said that Rishabh Pant has a defensive technique similar to former captain MS Dhoni. On Saturday, September 21, the left-handed Pant scored his sixth Test hundred in the second innings of India’s opening Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Moreover, Pant equalled Dhoni’s record for most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. Batting at No.5, the youngster scored 109 runs off 128 balls with the help of 13 fours and four sixes. Manjrekar said while Pant deserves applause for his shot-making, his defensive technique should not go unnoticed.

"It's a misleading package we see with Rishabh Pant. Underneath that, you will see as many dot balls in his innings at Shubman Gill's so he is willing to also play the defensive game that we have seen many times in the past,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.

IND vs BAN, 1st Test, Day 3: Highlights | Full Scorecard

“He has got a pretty good defensive technique, bit like Dhoni, whose defensive technique was quite good. People talk about the leadership and the big-hitting power that Dhoni had, but his defensive technique was pretty good, and the same with Rishabh Pant as well," Manjrekar said.

‘Pant has his own way of getting runs’

Pant looked promising in the first innings, scoring 39 runs off 52 balls before edging one off Hasan Mahmud, who eventually picked up a five-wicket haul. But in the second innings, Pant not only got a big score, but also shared a 167-run stand for the fourth wicket with Shubman Gill.

Pant made sure that India set Bangladesh a daunting target of 515 to chase down. Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed him caught and bowled, but by then, the Indian batter had already done the damage. Manjrekar also said that Pant will play a vital role when India go to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"We've seen these phases but it's about Pant playing as per the situation, sometimes dependent on his mood but also very careful about choosing the right kind of bowlers as long as there were off-spinners bowling, he wasn't taking too many chances. So he is that kind of player who has his own way of getting runs and has his own agenda - a bit like Virender Sehwag. When India goes to Australia, that is when they truly need him,” Manjrekar added.

At Stumps on Day 3, Bangladesh needed 357 more runs to win with six wickets left in their second innings.