Former Pakistan batsman Salman Butt wants India's wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant to look up to his senior teammate Rohit Sharma and learn to adapt his game as per the conditions. Rohit has shown amazing improvement in the red-ball format overseas.
Pant hasn't been able to perform in the ongoing five-match Test series against England. He never looked settled in any of his knocks which is a worrying sign for him and Team India.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Butt lauded Rohit and said the India opener has more aggressive shots in his arsenal than some of the youngsters. “One of the common traits among batters who score runs in all types of conditions around the world is their adaptability. Rohit Sharma too has molded his game in England according to the circumstances.
"According to me, Rohit Sharma is the best example for Rishabh Pant and other youngsters to watch and learn from. He is more aggressive and has more shots than some of the young guns. His range of stroke play is also far greater."
Butt pointed out how Rohit has adjusted as per the English conditions and didn't go on to display his wide range of shots. “However, look at the way he is respecting the ball and playing according to the conditions. He has displayed immense patience and has been waiting for the ball. There is a lot for the youngsters to learn from him. I really hope he plays a long innings on Saturday. I am really enjoying the way he has been batting," he added.
When asked if Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane could emulate the attacking batting style of KL Rahul and Rohit, Butt said it won't be easy considering they aren't gifted stroke players like the Indian openers.
“KL Rahul and Rohit are naturally gifted stroke players. Pujara is ultra-defensive and so is Rahane. You can do still well in India and Australia with such an approach. However, you cannot get set in England this way. In overcast and seaming conditions, somewhere there will be a good ball and you could get out," he said.
“You need to be a bit more positive. If you get a bad one, you have to get runs on it. Unfortunately for India, England’s bowlers are so good, they hardly give any opportunity for the opposition to score. Rahul and Rohit have a great range of strokes, so they can find a way out. But that is not the case with Pujara and Rahane. They do not have so many shots in their armory, that is why they look so restricted at times. Pujara and Rahane are Test specialists and they are also low on confidence.”
India are currently at 43/0 at the end of Day 2. They scored 191 runs in the first innings and bowled out England, who took 99 runs lead, on 290 runs in the fourth Test.
