IND vs SA 2019: Sourav Ganguly – “Rishabh Pant Can Never Be MS Dhoni”

The BCCI recently announced the squad for the upcoming Twenty20 series against South Africa where once again MS Dhoni wasn’t included. Instead,?Rishabh Pant has been chosen as the wicket-keeper and Dhoni?s future remains uncertain after he made himself unavailable for the selection for the ongoing West Indies series. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly said he wasn?t surprised that MS Dhoni was not included in India?s T20 squad which is scheduled to start from September 15.

“I expected that, see talent like Rishabh Pant needs time to get nurtured. I am not surprised with the decision,” Ganguly said during a Progressive Teachers Conclave in the Capital on Saturday.

“We all including Sachin Tendulkar, Maradona and including me, we all have gone through this time and it?s up to MS Dhoni and management to communicate over the future course of selection.?Right now, Virat is in a very important position to take any call,” Ganguly added.

However, the wicketkeeper-batsman hasn?t announced his retirement yet from the international career. He has played 90 Tests, 350 ODIs and 98T20Is for India so far. Dhoni hasn’t been played a single game following India?s World Cup loss in the semis while the chief selector MSK Prasad clarified that MS Dhoni had made himself unavailable for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa.

While Ganguly was asked about the comparisons between the veteran and Rishabh Pant, he said both can’t be compared.

“Pant can never be Dhoni and definitely not it upcoming 2-3 years, it took 15 years him (Dhoni) to become Dhoni,” Ganguly shared.

While talking about the ongoing series against the West Indies, their squad and the comparison between the previous generation of Caribbean cricketers, Ganguly said that there is no comparison between the two generations.

“I am surprised with the way West Indies team playing, they are winning the toss and asking the opposition to bat,” Ganguly concluded.