Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has found it difficult to get going after the long break due to COVID-19. His performances in IPL 2020 were nowhere near the expectations from him.
However, he did manage to earn a place in India's Test squad for the series against Australia on the back of his past record overseas and the fact that he scored a century the last time he played a Test in Australia.
Parthiv Patel, who retired from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, December 9, believes that it Pant will have to prove himself again before getting a place in all 3 formats for India again.
Parthiv Patel told SportsTak, "My experience says that you are never out of the Indian team's fray. It is very important for the player to have a belief in himself. Pant will have to show in domestic cricket, by scoring runs and keeping wickets in every match. You have to show that I am ready for international cricket."
He also did mention that the youngster put on a little weight in the lockdown and that has made it tougher for Pant to be back to his best again.
The 35-year-old said, "Talk about Rishabh Pant, lockdown happened, he put on a little weight. There is no question about his talent. Every time I meet him, I tell him that people are talking about you because you have a lot of talent."
"Now how do you convert that talent into performance, it is in your hands, it is not in anyone else's hands. You have to convert talent into runs and good wicket keeping. I am sure he has understood that," he added.
(With inputs from India Today)
