'Comparing MS Dhoni-Rishabh Pant not fair; should be compared with Virat Kohli': Ravichandran Ashwin

MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli (AFP/BCCI/AP Photos)

Rishabh Pant left a massive impact in a losing cause with centuries in both innings of the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds. With his century in the first innings, the left-handed batsman-wicketkeeper broke the record held by the great MS Dhoni for the most Test hundreds by a designated Indian wicketkeeper. Dhoni slammed six hundreds in 144 innings, but Pant outscored him with seven tons in 76 and then went to add one more to his tally in the second essay.

After the legendary Andy Flower of Zimbabwe, Pant also became the second keeper-batter to reach back-to-back hundreds in Test, and the first by an Indian cricketer.

But former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, said that Pant should not be compared with Dhoni, as the latter never batted at No. 5, as he was more of a keeper-batter.

Also Read | 'I am Jethalal of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah': Prithvi Shaw on career loaded with controversies

“Comparing MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant is not fair. MS Dhoni never batted at No. 5. MS Dhoni was a keeper-batter, and I would say Pant is a batter-keeper. There are a lot of differences in that,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

Instead, Ashwin said that Pant should be compared to none other than former captain Virat Kohli, who had announced his retirement from Test cricket just before the England tour. “Rishabh Pant should be compared with the likes of Virat Kohli. He is a main batter. The time and skill Pant has, when he is batting, look at the time he has against the pacers,” he added.

Also Read | 'Made wrong friends': Prithvi Shaw passes honest account on downfall; adds 'was mentally prepared' for IPL snub

Meanwhile, it was Pant's fourth century in English shores, helping him match the tally of iconic names Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar and Vengsarkar have four centuries from a total of 30 and 23 innings respectively. Even Virat Kohli does not have that many, while Rahul Dravid tops the list with six tons from 23 innings.

Following his idol Dhoni's footsteps, Pant is demonstrating a great deal of promise to eclipse not only the legendary cricketer's legacy in Test cricket, but also that of many others.