'He has that X factor' - Suresh Raina backs Rishabh Pant to shine in white-ball cricket

Suresh Raina has expressed strong confidence in Rishabh Pant's ability to develop further in white-ball cricket and the Indian Premier League.

The former India batter highlighted Pant's hard work and consistent performances across formats, singling him out as a standout talent in the current Indian cricket setup.

"He has worked hard. I am very happy. Everyone does well, but he is one of the best. He is my favourite player. He is scoring a lot in Tests. He has that X factor. I think he will mature in white-ball and IPL as well. He has done really well." said Raina on Aakash Chopra's YouTube channel.

Pant's Test record underscores the foundation on which Raina's assessment rests. The wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 3,725 runs across 52 Tests at an average of 43.82, with eight centuries and 21 half-centuries to his name. In India's recent Test series against Sri Lanka, Pant scored 168 runs across three innings at an average of 56.00, including two half-centuries, demonstrating his continued form in the longest format.

Pant's limited-overs timeline and IPL involvement

Pant's absence from India's limited-overs squads has been notable in recent months. His last T20 International appearance came against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 28, 2024, while his most recent ODI was played in Colombo against the same opposition on August 7, 2024. Despite this gap from white-ball cricket at the international level, Pant has continued to feature in the Indian Premier League, having played for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 and 2026 seasons before returning to Delhi Capitals following this year's tournament.

Raina's backing of Pant reflects confidence in the player's ability to regain a place in India's limited-overs plans. The assessment suggests that Pant's Test performances and overall skill set position him well for future opportunities across all formats, provided he continues to build on his current trajectory in both domestic cricket and the IPL.

Raina also backed explosive opener Abhishek Sharma to make the step up to Test cricket, while questioning whether IPL franchises and state associations are doing enough to encourage young players to embrace the longest format of the game.