SA v IND 2021-22: Rahul Dravid opines on Rishabh Pant's shot selection, says management will have a chat

Pant had thrown his wicket in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test.

By Salman Anjum - 07 Jan, 2022

After India’s seven-wicket loss in the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, head coach Rahul Dravid said that the team management will have conversations with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant regarding his shot selection.

Pant had gifted his wicket away in the second innings while looking to go over the top. The southpaw was dismissed for a three-ball duck when the visitors were looking to set a big four innings target for the Proteas.

See Also: Dravid must have given him a 'bamboo'- Gavaskar on Pant's rash dismissal

"In the sense that, we know Rishabh is a positive player and he plays in a particular manner which has gotten him success. But yeah, of course, there are times, we will have a level of conversations with him around, it is just about the timing of that shot you know. No one is going to tell Rishabh not to be a positive or aggressive player. Sometimes it is about choosing the timing to do that," said Dravid during a virtual press conference, as quoted by ANI.

"When you have just come in, giving yourself some more time would be more advisable. We know what we are getting with Rishabh, he is a very positive player, he is someone who can change the course of the game for us, so we won't take that away from him and ask him to become something very different. It is about figuring out when is the right time to attack. He is learning, he plays in a particular way but he will keep learning," he added.

Chasing 240 to win, the hosts rode on skipper Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 96 and Rassie van der Dussen’s 40 to get over the line comfortably.

With this victory, South Africa also levelled the series 1-1 with the third and final Test slated to be held in Cape Town from January 11.

"Dean Elgar played well, you need to give him credit. He stuck it out there, both the Test matches, he stuck out there, fought through some difficult periods and we beat his bat quite a few times. We have beaten the bat, we just have not been lucky. Credit to him, in spite of not looking very comfortable he stuck it out there and he showed determination to fight his way through. As I said, he really showed great character to keep fighting," said Dravid.

"We came here knowing that we will have to do something really special to get those eight wickets with South Africa needing 122 to win on the final day. We knew the outfield was wet and the ball was going to get wet. Probably the ball did not swing much as the ball got wet. But credit to the South Africa batters, they played really well. Whenever the bad balls were bowled, they cashed in. We were excited to go out there and give our best but on the day, South Africa played better," he further remarked.

(With ANI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 07 Jan, 2022

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