Former Indian batter and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra was critical of the Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s performance with the bat in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series against New Zealand.
On Sunday, November 21, the Indian cricket team registered a clean sweep over New Zealand by thrashing the tourists by 73 runs in the third and final T20I to clinch the series 3-0 in Kolkata.
The left-hander scored 17*, 12*, and 4 in three T20Is against New Zealand after scoring just 78 runs in the recent T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. However, before the showpiece event, he amassed 419 in 16 games for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the last 2021 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Reacting to his form, Chopra has pointed out that India’s middle-lower order is still an area of concern because Pant hasn't batted to his full potential and hasn't yet fully cracked the T20 code.
Chopra said, “The middle-lower order is still a concern because Rishabh Pant hasn't really batted the way we wanted him to bat. He hasn't batted the way he can bat, you expect more from him.”
He further added, “The runs come from his bat, he hits sixes as well but I feel he hasn't yet fully cracked the T20 code, which is a bit of a disappointment. He is absolutely sensational in Tests, it is the format he has cracked easily but he is still figuring out his ways in the other formats.”
Meanwhile, former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori wasn’t also happy with Pant's performance against the Black Caps in the recent T20I series.
Vettori told ESPNCricinfo: “He hasn’t got his tempo right in T20 cricket. He hasn’t quite understood his role, particularly in this series. Sometimes he is overly cautious, and then he is reckless.”
He concluded, “It doesn’t feel like there is a flow to his game. When you see great T20 batters batting well, it is all about flow and momentum and you just feel a rhythm to it. He hasn’t quite got that yet.”
