As Rishabh Pant failed to live up to the expectations and struggles to prove himself at the international level, Brad Haddin, former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman, has advised the young player to create his own identity, instead of trying to copy anyone else to excel at the highest level.
Ever since the 22-year-old broke into the Indian cricket team, there has been a lot of hype around the youngsters as he was given several roles by the management in his short career, but he has failed to live to the hype with a series of disappointing performances, especially with the gloves.
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The wicketkeeper-batsman lost his place in the India XI across formats – first in Test cricket when the Virat Kohli-led team management recalled the veteran Wriddhiman Saha and he managed to retain he place in the side with a splendid job behind the stumps.
However, India decided to play Pant as a wicket-keeper batsman in the limited-overs format since the talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni was not available, but a concussion during Australia series at home gave him another masterstroke, as KL Rahul made his place own with a fantastic show.
The Karnataka cricketer did a brilliant job with both bat and gloves against Australia to force the national team management to persist with him for the role against New Zealand, where he again grabbed eyeballs with his job to kick Pant off from the XI throughout the limited-overs series.
However, the Delhi lad was given the opportunity to prove himself, but he again failed, scoring just 60 runs beside taking 8 catches in the two-match Test series against New Zealand – which raises serious questions over Pant’s India future especially with ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is just 7 months away.
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In this torrid time, Haddin has words of wisdom for Pant, saying the youngster just needs to be true to himself and bring his own style to the team to be successful at the international scene.
Haddin was quoted as saying by Sportstar on Thursday (March 18): “Rishabh Pant should be him. That’s how he’s going to create his identity. He’s got to be himself. Expectation comes with anyone at this level and that’s one of the things you’ve got to deal with. But the most important thing is to create your own identity of what you want to be seen as.”
He further added, “You bring your own style to the team. When I first got my opportunity to play Test cricket, I couldn’t try to be an Adam Gilchrist or Ian Healy. I had to bring my own unique style to the game. One of the challenges here is not trying to be someone you’re not and just be true to yourself.”
Meanwhile, there is a big question mark on who will succeed Dhoni both behind the stumps and as a finisher and Haddin, IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach stressed on the need that the next-gen Indian keepers to carry forward the legacy left behind by the legendary cricketer.
The Aussie added, “India has been blessed for the last 10 years to have a superstar of the game in M. S. Dhoni. So, it’s important whoever takes over from that role creates their own identity.”
He signed off by saying, “Dhoni has left a great legacy to the game. He’s left a great legacy for Indian cricket, but the next one involved, it’s up to them to put their own style to the game and their identity what they want to create as an Indian keeper.”
(With Sportstar Inputs)
