Former Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt lashed out at Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for his dismissal in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test against South Africa, saying that the southpaw needs to put a price on his wicket.
Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the second innings of the recently concluded Test match in Johannesburg has seen him getting criticised.
The wicketkeeper-batter registered a three-ball duck as he tried to smash Kagiso Rabada out of the park by charging him down the track.
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Pant, notably was under the firing line for his failures in Test cricket since the final of the World Test Championship 2021 and after he threw his wicket in the second innings of the second Test, it has worsened the case more.
Taking about Pant’s dismissal in the second innings of the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt lashed out at the Indian wicketkeeper, saying that he needs to put a price on his wicket and his shot was irresponsible.
He pointed out that Pant plays shots like those because of a lack of confidence and he should spend time on the crease to make things better for him.
"Definitely, he has to put a price on his wicket. His shot against South Africa was irresponsible. I feel that's not a confident shot. It's the other way around. He plays like that due to a lack of confidence. If a player stays at the crease and takes time in the middle, things will get better for him. Pant comes in and starts hitting from the word go," Salman Butt said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Butt said that Pant’s approach hasn’t helped him score runs in recent times. He while admitting that the southpaw is a talented player remarked that he needs to explore other options to score runs.
"When he started, it looked like a confident shot. But this show at present looks more like a 'lack of confidence' shot. His approach hasn't been helped him score runs in recent times. He is a capable player and has a lot of talent. But he isn't exploring other options to score runs," he said.
Salman Butt lashed out at Rishabh Pant, saying that he’s isn’t lifting his patience levels, which can be harsh on the team. He pointed out that he has replaced MS Dhoni in the side and he needs to rethink about his strategy.
He added that if he continued playing such kinds of shots, he’ll receive a lot of flak from experts, analysts and fans.
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"He is not even lifting his patience levels. That can be harsh... on the team and the player himself. He is keeping for a leading Test team after replacing MS Dhoni with the gloves. If you are replacing someone like Dhoni, you need to rethink your strategy.
“You are in the team because of your talent... but Test cricket has a lot of time to build the innings. If you hit such kinds of shots, you will receive a lot of flak from experts, analysts and fans as well,” he concluded.
The Test series between South Africa and India is levelled at 1-1. The third and final match of the series will take place in Cape Town from 11th January.
