Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir talked about Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the third ODI against South Africa in Cape Town and said that everyone should accept him the way he is as along with match-winning innings he’ll also play rash shots.
Rishabh Pant yet again came under the scanner for his rash dismissal. The wicketkeeper-batter received a lot of flak for bagging a golden duck in the third ODI against South Africa in Cape Town.
Chasing the target of 288 runs in the dead-rubber, Pant came to bat when India lost Shikhar Dhawan for 61 runs. It was expected that the wicketkeeper-batter would stitch a partnership with Virat Kohli, who was batting at the other end, and would replicate the heroics from the last match, where he scored 85 runs.
But this wasn’t the case as he came down the track and 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 leave India tumbling at 118/3.
Speaking on Star Sports in the post-match show, Gautam Gambhir said that management should accept Rishabh Pant the way he is as along with match-winning innings he will also play rash shots.
He added that Rishabh Pant will continue playing in the same manner as he is not like Virat Kohli who will build his innings and if team management wants him to play like that, they will have to groom him.
“You have to accept him the way he is. He will play match-winning innings but also play rash shots like today. If the management is patient to back a player like this, then we can see him getting more opportunities. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.
“Pant will continue playing in the manner that he's currently playing. He's not someone like Virat Kohli, who will slowly build his innings. Yes, the team management can groom Pant to do that but it won't happen overnight... it will take time," Gautam Gambhir said.
Gautam Gambhir said that he wanted to see one among Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav to take Team India home and had either of two finished the match, he would have emerged as the winner of the middle-order competition.
He pointed out that senior batter like Virat Kohli has won many games for India but both Iyer and Yadav had a golden opportunity. And a match-winning innings from one among them would’ve showcased that they have the ability to play under pressure situations.
“If someone like Kohli finishes the match, it's just another day at the office for him. But we wanted to see someone like Shreyas or Suryakumar finish the match. Had either of the two finished the run-chase, one would have emerged as the winner of the middle-order competition.
"Kohli previously has won games for India when the required run-rate was over six... but both these youngsters lost a golden opportunity today. A match-winning innings today from Shreyas or Surya would have showcased the ability of both batters to play under pressure situations," he said.
Notably, after the wicket of Rishabh Pant, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and found tumbling at 210/6. However, Deepak Chahar played a blinder and scored 54 runs to revive the hopes of Indian fans, but couldn’t help his side cross the line as South Africa completed a 3-0 whitewash.
(Star Sports inputs)
