'Funny and Plays the Game in the Right Spirit': Marnus Labuschagne Picks Rishabh Pant as 'Most Amusing' Player in Team India

Australian international, Marnus Labuschagne picked out the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant as one of the most amusing characters in the Indian unit as the two sides gear up for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 being played in Australia later this year.

Barring any injury concerns, it is very likely that Pant would be picked in the squad to make the trip Down Under where the Indian side would look to extend their winning run and hopefully defend the title once again.

Most cricket fans would remember, Pant’s role in helping India claim the series win in the 2020-21 edition where he played a heroic knock to help secure the win at the Gabba.

But Labuschagne believes that Pant is a person who plays the game in the right spirit but also has a jovial time on the field.

“The one I always find the most amusing is Rishabh Pant. He’s always funny, (has) a great laugh, and plays the game in the right spirit,” Labuschagne told Star Sports.

Pant made his return to cricket’s longest format in the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh where he scored a century in the second innings of the first Test in Chennai.

He will likely be a part of the Indian setup for years to come as many tip the 26-year-old to be India’s next big wicketkeeper-batter since the legendary Indian skipper, MS Dhoni.

With lofty expectations, Pant is currently on the right track as he has solidified himself as a reliable batting option where he has already equalled the record for most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter.

With many more years to come from the Delhi-based player, it seems like it is only a matter of time until he establishes himself as one of the finest wicketkeeper-batters in the longest format to represent India.

Pant will likely be back in action for the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand which is set to begin on October 16 with the first match being played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The other two Tests will begin on October 24 and November 1 with the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium, Pune and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai playing hosts respectively.

(with PTI Inputs)