Cricket News

‘I couldn’t bear pressure and would cry in my room’ – Rishabh Pant talks out about comparisons with MS Dhoni

Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, said he struggled to deal with pressure early in his career. Pant said in an interview with Star Sports that continuous comparisons with MS Dhoni caused him to have a mental breakdown and that he used to cry in bed after matches.

Rishabh Pant, who is now recovering from a horrendous injury incurred due to a car accident, stated that he never understood the comparisons between Dhoni and himself.

“First of all, I didn’t understand why questions were raised. I had just made it to the team, and people were talking about being a replacement. Why were people raising such questions at a youngster? Why are you comparing? There shouldn’t be any comparison at all. Some have played five matches and the others have played 500,” Pant told Star Sports.

I’ve always found it tough to express my connection with MS Dhoni – Rishabh Pant

“It’s been a long road with many ups and downs, so the comparison is unfair. I used to feel so horrible. When I was 20-21 years old, I would go back to my room and cry. I was unable to breathe when under stress. There was so much pressure and I had no idea what to do. “I missed a stumping in Mohali, and the crowd started chanting ‘Dhoni Dhoni’,” he said.

The repeated comparisons between him and MS Dhoni did not spoil their relationship. Pant stated that Dhoni was one of his closest friends, and he confided in the former India captain.

“I’ve always found it tough to express my connection with MS Dhoni. There are some with whom you may speak freely. I discuss everything with MSD. I’ve learnt so much from him. I talk about topics with him that I wouldn’t tell anybody else. “That’s the kind of relationship I have with him,” Pant stated in the interview.