Former Indian cricketer and Delhi Capitals (DC) assistant coach Mohammad Kaif has revealed that Rishabh Pant was “quite low” being an “emotional person” after not being picked in the initial India squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Pant, India’s young wicketkeeper-batsman, was initially not named in India’s World Cup 2019 squad despite the left-hander had a memorable tour in Australia in 2018/19 and a sensational IPL last years as the national selectors went for Vijay Shankar at the no. 4 positions.
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Speaking to former India batsman Aakash Chopra on his Youtube chat show ‘Aakash Vani’, Kaif said: “His name was not there, and he felt quite low. He is quite an emotional person. He started feeling bad immediately afterward that he was not selected.”
He further explained, “We picked up on those things. So, we spoke to him a lot. We told him - ‘you are quite young, at the age of 20-21, a player just starts his career. You have already made a name for yourself. You have already won the matches for your team.’
None of us ever had any doubts that he will not be a big player, or he will not perform. We have always maintained that ‘you are a good player, you will get your chance. Just keep doing what you are doing, keep winning matches like you have been doing every year’. We spoke to him on his mental thoughts.”
Kaif signed off by saying, “But he is a class player, there is no doubt on this. You don’t get such players. If he is used correctly, then he can be an asset. He is quite young as well, when he plays for two-three years more, he will become an even better player,”
Noteworthy, Pant was later called to the World Cup squad last year after Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan were both ruled out of the tournament due to the injuries, but he didn’t perform to his ability.
(With IANS Inputs)
