Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has expressed his disappointment over Rishabh Pant’s poor wicket-keeping on Day 1 of the ongoing third Test against Australia in Sydney, saying the youngster is a brilliant batsman but when it comes to the job behind the stump, Wriddhiman Saha is a must for India.
Pant has yet again come under the scanner for his keeping job after dropping two catches in three overs off Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj, giving lifeline twice to Australia’s Test debutant Will Pucovski who eventually ended up scoring 62 before being dismissed by Navdeep Saini.
Ojha has further pointed out that India can’t afford such mistakes especially when the wicket was favoring batsmen at the SCG and playing against Australia and even on their home soil.
He further said that the team needs someone who can take those important catches and make those differences since dropping catches not only disappoints the bowler but also deters team’s chances.
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Former Indian spinner believes that Saha is the best for the job behind the stump while saying Pant must improve his wicket-keeping to play more and more for India.
Ojha said on Sports Today: “That catch dropped by Rishabh Pant...I think India had the plan right [against Pucovski], they bombed him. But if you drop those catches, especially on a wicket that is so good to bat on and a day 1 wicket then things are totally different [from what was planned.”
He further explained, “That’s the reason I said Saha was very important. He’s the No.1 wicketkeeper for you. You have to back him. You know always - the process. Yes, Rishabh Pant is a brilliant batsman but taking catches, getting those 50-50 chances, stumpings, everything behind the stumps.
Those things are also important especially when you’re playing against sides like Australia. If Rishabh Pant needs to play more and more he needs to improve himself. You need someone who can take those important catches and make those differences.”
Contrary, former wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta has backed Pant’s selection for the Sydney Test but said he’s repeating the same mistakes that’s disheartening to see, saying he must improve his technique behind the stumps before it’s too late.
Dasgupta said on Sports Today, “I don’t think he [Saha] was shown the door. I think if they have a policy, of playing Rishabh Pant away from home, Wriddiman at home I can understand. So I’m still going to stick by Rishabh playing this Test match. But what the sad thing is, he’s repeating the same mistakes.”
Recalling his own days, the commentator has suggested: “And you know why it’s more frustrating for me because I’ve been through the same thing where there were technical issues. By the time I sorted it out, it was too late. I hope it’s not the case for Pant but the issues have been around since the beginning, for some years.”
He signed off, “It’s disheartening to see that he is not learning [from his mistakes]. I would still back him. I would still back the idea behind picking Rishabh and I hope he improves before it’s too late.”
(With India Today Inputs)
