Record-breaker Rishabh Pant hails India's hero MS Dhoni

Image Credits: PTI

India's new record-holder wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has dubbed former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as "the hero of the country" and said that he has learned a lot from him, including being patient during pressure situations. 

“He’s the hero of the country.I’ve learnt a lot from him as a person and as a cricketer as well.Whenever he’s around, I feel more confident as a person. If I’ve got any problems I can share it with him and get a solution right away," cricket.com.au quoted Pant as saying. 

“As a wicketkeeper and a player (he’s taught me) to be patient in pressure situations like this (in Adelaide).You have to keep calm and keep composed and try to give 100 per cent," he added. 

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman's comments came after he played a crucial role in his side's 31-run win over Australia in the opening Test of the four-match series at the Adelaide Oval.

Pant on Saturday took six catches during Australia's first innings to equal predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni's record of most number of catches by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test innings.

He then backed that up by claiming another five catches in the second innings to take his tally to 11, surpassing Wriddhiman Saha's record of 10 catches and equallig 
world record held by Jack Russell and AB de Villiers.

Reflecting on the records, Pant said that though it is good to add some milestones in his kitty, he had never thought about the records much.

“I never thought of the record but it’s good to take some catches and put it inside my kitty.It’s good to have milestones, but I’m not thinking about that too much.”

Pant will look to replicate a similar kind of performance when India head into the second Test of the four-match series against Australia, beginning Friday at the Perth Stadium.