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‘Save those for IPL’: India legend tears into Pant, says ‘I joked with him about shot selection. He just laughed’
A former India cricketer has warned Rishabh Pant to avoid playing risky shots, and to use it only in the IPL.
Rishabh Pant has been one of the best players in the ongoing India vs England Test series. Led by new skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Pant, India currently trail 1-2, having lost the third Test by 22 runs. Pant is the second-highest run-scorer n the series, and is approach has been entertaining for fans.
But former India cricketer Farokh Engineer has warned Pant to avoid playing risky shots, and to use it only in the IPL as ‘Test cricket demands discipline.’
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Speaking to RevSporz, he said, “Absolutely. Save those (risky shots) for IPL. Test cricket demands discipline. From a number three or four, you expect them to play proper cricket, get big scores, and build innings. Rishabh has scored centuries in both innings of a Test, which is remarkable. So yes, he could play purely as a batsman, especially with England’s strong bowling lineup, now including Jofra Archer and Atkinson.”
‘Unpredictable’ Rishabh Pant
Pant is currently suffering from a finger injury, which saw Dhruv Jurel don the gloves in the previous fixture. Engineer added, “For the runs he’s scored, yes, he can play as a pure batter. But Rishabh is unpredictable. Whatever comes to his mind, he does it. I joked with him about his shot selection, and he just laughed—said he does what feels right in the moment. He has the confidence and has gotten away with it often. But he needs to be more responsible in crucial moments, like right before lunch or at the end of a day’s play. Still, he’s immensely talented. He invents his own shots, and thankfully, helmets allow that now. In our time, we wouldn’t have had any teeth left.”
Pant has registered 425 runs in six innings in the ongoing series, with an average of 70.83. Shubman Gill tops the chart with 607 runs in six innings, averaging 101.16. England’s Jamie Smith is third with 415 in six innings, at an average of 103.75.
