Photo via The Times of India

‘Ishan Kishan closing the gap’: Jaffer warns Pant to raise his game

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has sounded a warning to Rishabh Pant, urging the wicketkeeper-batter to elevate his game to retain his spot in the Indian Test team. With Ishan Kishan making steady progress and Dhruv Jurel also emerging as a strong contender, Pant faces growing competition.

Kishan’s consistent performances across all formats have narrowed the gap significantly, while Pant’s recent exclusion from the ODI and T20I squads and loss of his vice-captaincy have added pressure. Jaffer acknowledged Pant’s past match-winning contributions, comparing his impact to former Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, but stressed that the upcoming domestic season—including the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and IPL—will be crucial for Pant to solidify his position.

Meanwhile, Kishan’s versatility as both a wicketkeeper and batter has made him a formidable rival, with Jaffer suggesting he could even be deployed purely as a batter in certain situations.

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