Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed Rishabh Pant to lead the Indian team if Shubman Gill misses the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati due to a neck issue.
Ponting, who worked as a coach for Delhi Capitals when Pant was the franchise captain, said that India’s vice-captain has sufficient experience to lead the team.
“It’s never easy to come in and fill the role of a stand-in captain, especially after a recent Test loss,” Ponting said during an episode of ICC Review. “Rishabh is now a reasonably experienced Test player, and being a wicketkeeper probably helps him see how the game is evolving and what’s happening on the field. He’s done it in the IPL over the past few years and for Delhi before that. I think he will be fine. It will be interesting to see how he plays as captain and how he balances his own style of play as a batter. I think he will handle the occasion well.”
After suffering the injury in the first Test against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Gill remained on the sidelines, with Pant leading the team as stand-in captain. India lost the match by 30 runs while chasing 124, and some of Pant’s on-field decisions drew criticism from experts.
The second Test will be played at Barsapara Stadium from Saturday, November 22.
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