Former India cricketer Madan Lal has lashed out at the Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for the reckless shot that saw him get dismissed for a duck in the second Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, and said the youngster "should be given a break".
Pant’s aggressive approach with the bat has won some important games for Team India, but the same approach hasn’t worked many times in Test cricket, and most recently, the left-hander was out for a three-ball duck when his team needed runs in the second Test against South Africa.
Amidst the heavy criticism, the former cricketer said that the 24-year-old is a match-winner, but he must understand that he has to bat for the team, not for himself, while mentioning that the Indian team has the option of bringing in Wriddhiman Saha, who is a sensible batter and a fine keeper.
Lal said on Aaj Tak: “He should be given a break. You have someone like Wriddhiman Saha, who is a sensible batter, and a very good wicketkeeper. But Pant has to decide how he wants to bat in Test cricket. If there is some doubt in his mind, it is better to give him a break. He is a match-winning player, but you cannot bat like this. You have to bat for the team and not for yourself.”
Notably, South Africa chased down a tricky target of 240 to win the second Test by 7 wickets Johannesburg to level the ongoing three-match Test series on Thursday. The Test series is now evenly-poised with the series decider will be held at the Newlands, Cape Town from January 11.
