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After his life-threatening car accident in December 2022, Rishabh Pant's return to the Indian Test squad has become a highly anticipated event for cricket fans.

Pant will make his return to the Test side in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 in Chennai.

This will be his first Test match since the accident, and there are high expectations among fans regarding his performance, especially given his previous success in the longest format of the game.

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Former India captain, Sourav Ganguly believes that Pant has the potential to achieve greatness in Test cricket but insists the wicketkeeper-batter must elevate his game in the shorter formats to realize his full potential.

What did Sourav Ganguly say about Rishabh Pant's future in Test Cricket?

Speaking at a promotional event, Ganguly showered praise on Pant, expressing confidence in the young player's ability to excel in Test cricket.

Ganguly remarked, "I consider Rishabh Pant one of India's best Test batsmen. I'm not surprised that he's back in the side, and he will continue to play for India in Tests."

The former captain also emphasized the potential for Pant to become one of the all-time greats in the red-ball format, provided that he continues with the same level of performance, while also improving his performances in the shorter formats, that is T20Is and ODIs.

"He will be an all-time great in Tests if he keeps performing like this. For me, he needs to get better in the shorter formats."

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What is Rishabh Pant’s record in Test cricket?

Since his debut in 2018, Pant has become a vital player for the Indian Test side, known for his aggressive yet reliable batting.

His notable innings include match-winning knocks in tough overseas conditions, such as his memorable 89* in Brisbane that led India to a historic series win over Australia.

Pant’s ability to counterattack when the team is under pressure has earned him and Team India a lot of success in the red-ball format including a solid Test average of 43.67, along with five centuries and eleven fifties in just 33 matches. 

FormatMatInnsRunsHSAveSR100s50s4s6s
Tests33562271159*43.6773.6351124655
ODIs3127871125*33.50106.21159126
T20Is7666120965*23.25127.260311144

While Pant has found remarkable success in Test cricket, his performance in T20s and ODIs has been inconsistent. With Ganguly’s advice in mind, Pant will need to work on translating that success into the shorter formats.

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Saurav Goyal Photo

Saurav Goyal is a content producer for The Sporting News’ India edition.