Batting great Sunil Gavaskar said that ‘marvellous talent’ Rishabh Pant should spend some time in the middle before going for big hits. He feels that Indian head Rahul Dravid should sit with the wicketkeeper batter and tell him some home truths.
Rishabh Pant has been one of the revelations for Indian cricket since 2021. The southpaw has made his impact felt and has become the main batter of the Indian set-up of late and played a pivotal in the team’s success in Tests last year.
The wicketkeeper batter many times has been under the scanner for his rash dismissals and has received a lot of flak for his shot selection. While Pant was applauded for his heroics with the bat in the recently concluded tour of South Africa, he received equal criticism for his mode of dismissals.
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Rishabh Pant registered a three-ball duck in the second Test in Johannesburg as he tried to smash Kagiso Rabada out of the park by charging him down the track when India needed him to stay at the crease and spend time in the middle.
In the third ODI, he was dismissed similarly as tried to smash Andile Phehlukwayo for six on the very first ball he faced and only managed to find a fielder in the deep cover area to bag a golden duck.
Speaking to Sports Today, Sunil Gavaskar said that almost everyone is aware of what Rishabh Pant is capable of and he made many change their views and opinions about him every other day.
He highlighted that the wicketkeeper-batter one day plays a blinder of an innings and the next day he plays shot which makes everyone mad. He feels that head coach Rahul Dravid should tell Pant what a ‘marvellous’ talent he is and needs to give him some time in the middle.
"We all know what he is capable of. We all are changing our views and opinions about him every other day. One day he plays a blinder of an innings, the next day he plays a shot which makes you wonder.
“But somewhere down the line, my feeling is that Rahul Dravid will sit him down and tell him what a marvelous talent he is. And all that he needs to do is to give himself a little bit of time in the middle like he did in Australia," Sunil Gavaskar said.
Citing the example of Pant’s heroics in Australia in 2021, Gavaskar said that the wicketkeeper batter needs to give himself some time in the middle and get the feeler of the pitch as he can easily go from 0 in 10 delivers to 16 runs in 14 balls.
"The reason we bring that Australia Tests up is that when he scored that 96 in Sydney, 89 is Brisbane, he gave himself time and only after that he start to go for the big shots. And that's because it becomes easier.
“You know what the pitch is doing, your feet are moving, you eye is set. And with all those shots, even if he scores 0 off 10 deliveries, in the next 4 he can score 16," he said.
Sunil Gavaskar said that Rahul Dravid needs to sit with Rishabh Pant and tell him some ‘home truths’ and what is expected of him when he bats at No.4.
He pointed out that playing at a strike rate of 300 is not needed, everyone wants Pant to play with the strike rate that can take the team home. He stressed that the wicketkeeper batter has done it in the past and will do it again for the team.
"That is the capability that he has, so that is why now Rahul Dravid needs to sit with him and tell him some home truths. This is what is expected to you when you bat at No. 4.
“We don't want a strike rate of 300, we want a strike rate where you are taking the team home. He has done it in the past and he can do it again. With that goodness in talent, comes a little sense of wanting to do that much better for the team,” he said.
Rishabh Pant will be next seen in action when India will face West Indies in the ODI series, starting 6th February.
(Sports Today Inputs)
