Ricky Ponting 'exposes' MS Dhoni's stats while praising Rishabh Pant ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

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Ricky Ponting called Rishabh Pant a "serious cricketer" after comparing his numbers to the legendary MS Dhoni, in lead up to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 starting November 22 in Perth.

The former Australia captain, who worked closely with Rishabh Pant for seven years at Delhi Capitals, highlighted that 26-year-old Pan has five hundreds in just 33 Test matches, whereas Dhoni finished his 90-Test career with six hundreds only.

"We've all seen him play and heard him in the stump mic, he's an infectious character to have around the group. He loves his cricket, he's a winner, that's what he is. He doesn't just play to make a few runs and be out there for the fun of it," Ponting told Sky Sports.

"He must have 4 or 5 Test hundreds already and he's got about nine 90s as well. [MS] Dhoni played for 120 Tests (90) and made 3 or 4 hundreds (6), this is how good this guy (Pant) is. He's a serious cricketer," he added.

MS Dhoni could not hit a single overseas Test hundred in his illustrious career. On the flip side, Rishabh Pant has a hundred each in Australia, and South Africa, while In England the southpaw has slammed two tons. The wicketkeeper-batter has also been dismissed in the 90s on six occasions in Test cricket.

Ponting calls Pant's comeback remarkable

The Australian great termed Pant's comeback after a near-fatal car accident in December 2022 as remarkable. He admitted that despite Pant's "guarantee' to become fully fit for the IPL 2024, he believed that he could only bat as an Impact Player. But not only did Pant keep wickets, but emerged as the leading run-scorer for Delhi Capitals for the season. A month after the end of season, the Delhi batter won the T20 World Cup with India.

"It's a remarkable comeback. If you can see even his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he confronted during his car accident, just the mental scarring that comes with that but the physical side and the rehab he went through, I didn't think he would play last year's IPL (2024)"

"But 12 months before, he said 'Don't worry about me, I guarantee you I'll be right for the IPL'. We thought he'll be able to bat and we might have to use him as a sub player (Impact Player) but he kept every game, was one of our leading run-scorers, bats No. 3 in the T20 World Cup and is part of a World Cup winning team and is named in the Test squad now," he added.