IND v SA 2019: Unable to succeed at No.4, Pant should bat lower down, says Laxman

Rishabh Pant continued his run of low scores at No.4 in India's T20I line-up versus South Africa.

Rishabh Pant | AP

Having seen Rishabh Pant get out after another rash shot in the third and final T20I versus South Africa and continue his run of low scores, former India batsman VVS Laxman suggested a move lower down the order for the young wicketkeeper batsman. 

Pant didn't get going on the night and made a 20-ball 19 in India's nine-wicket loss that helped Proteas level up the three-match series. 

"The nature of Rishabh Pant's batting is that he plays aggressive shots," Laxman told Star Sports after the game in Bangalore on Sunday (September 23). "The success came for him in Delhi Capitals during IPL, playing at No. 4 with an average strike rate of 45 but unfortunately at the international level he is not able to succeed at the number four position."

Read Also: Gavaskar asks team management to give Pant some "breathing space"

"Every player goes through this phase, his natural game is free flowing but suddenly he is not gaining the same results."

"He is trying to evolve and trying to add different dimensions to his game by rotating the strike that we saw in the previous match but unfortunately, his shot selection at the start of the innings has not been great."

Laxman reckons players with more experience and ability to manoveour the ball for singles like Shreyas Iyer shall bat at No.4 while Pant can come in a position or two later and continue striking the ball big. 

"Pant should bat at number 5 and 6, where you have the license to go out and express yourself and at the moment he doesn't know the right method of scoring runs at number 4."

"There are other people to bat at number 4 like Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer who are experienced and could play at that spot," he added. 

There is also a huge weight of expectations on his young shoulders as the 21-year-old Pant is considered direct replacement of the great MS Dhoni. 

"He also has a lot of pressure as he is taking the place of MS Dhoni who has done a lot for Indian cricket, to get his confidence back the team management needs to let him go bat at number 5 or 6 and express himself," Laxman concluded. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 23 Sep, 2019

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