Will take Pant 15 years to achieve what Dhoni achieved: Sourav Ganguly

Kolkata, Dec 6: Young wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant has been under quite some pressure in recent times after he failed to perform to potential. But former India skipper and current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has backed the youngster and said that Pant should learn from all the criticism, including the chants of "Dhoni, Dhoni" and find a way forward.

"It's good for him (Pant). He should get used to it. Let him hear it and let him find a way to succeed. He will be under pressure and let him go through it and figure out on his own," Ganguly said at the 'India Today Conclave (East)'.

The BCCI chief also said that BCCI and Indian cricket must be thankful to Dhoni for his contribution and went on to add that it will take Pant 15 years to achieve what Dhoni achieved for the country.

"The BCCI can't be thankful enough to MS for what he has done for Indian cricket. We will leave it at that. We are speaking to Virat, the selectors, that's what it is. We will address (Dhoni future) as and when it comes.

"Every day, you don't get MS Dhoni. It will take Pant 15 years to achieve what MS has achieved," he said.

Skipper Virat Kohli also backed Pant on Thursday and said that he has the confidence of the team management.

"We certainly believe in Rishabh's ability. As you say, it's (also) the player's responsibility to do well, but our responsibility is to give him space, to support him. He should get support and it is disrespectful if you don't get it," Kohli said on the eve of the first T20I of the three-match series against West Indies starting Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

"As Rohit (Sharma) said recently, he needs to be left alone, he is a match-winner. Once he comes good, you will see a very different version of him. He can't be isolated to such an extent that he doesn't do well. We are here to do things for him," he added.