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Rahul Dravid student, now Abhishek Sharma fan: Rishabh Pant on batting mavericks

February 5, 2026

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant feels there is no batter more dangerous than Abhishek Sharma in world cricket at the moment. Speaking to India Today’s Salaam Cricket, Pant said that whatever Abhishek is doing right now is working in his favor and that the batter has proved that his batting ability is no fluke.

An attacking batsman himself, Pant lauded his younger compatriot’s consistency and said that maintaining top form in the Indian Premier League over several seasons is no small feat.

“In terms of current form, it’s Abhishek Sharma. He’s so consistent. Even in the IPL, he’s maintained his peak, which means his process is working and he’s backing it with faith. Every day can’t be tukka,” said Rishabh Pant in India Today’s Salaam Cricket.

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Abhishek Sharma heads into his first T20 World Cup as one of the most in-form batsmen in the world. Since his international debut in mid-2024, Abhishek has been in sensational touch, scoring nearly 1,300 runs from 38 matches with a staggering 195 strikes.

Rishabh Pant on Rahul Dravid’s advice

Apart from Abhishek, Pant revealed that one batsman he has always admired throughout his career is Rahul Dravid. Pant said the former India head coach left a lasting impression on him during his tenure with the national team.

Pant, who flourished across formats under Dravid, said one piece of advice from the Indian legend stuck with him.

“I think the key is not to think too much about it and not dwell on it. I learned one really good line from Rahul (Dravid) bhai. He always told me one thing: ‘Rishabh, whatever happens, try to be the same person when you score a hundred and when you score a zero,'” Pant said.

“I think the hardest thing to do as an athlete is to stay who you are. Emotions sometimes overtake you, but that line always stays with me. So personally, I try. Whether I score a zero or a hundred, I want to be the same guy. Maybe when I drop out, it hurts more. I don’t enjoy scoring as much as feeling the goalie score.”

Rishabh Pant has recently suffered a terrible run of form in ODI cricket, which has sent his stock plummeting. The wicketkeeper-batsman is not part of the T20 World Cup squad and is currently concentrating only on Test cricket, where he is the vice-captain of the Indian team.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

February 5, 2026

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