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Ajinkya Rahane talked about how the dressing room allows someone like a dashing left-handed batsman and keeper Rishabh Pant to play his natural game as giving him too much advice could hamper his playing style.

Ajinkya Rahane said they often leave Rishabh Pant alone and back his abilities to come good. He was highest run-getter for India and 3rd overall with 274 runs averaging 68.5 in 3-Tests in recently concluded Test series against full-strength Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane: Team Doesn’t Need To Give Rishabh Pant Advice As He Should Be Left Alone, Backed And Asked To Play His Normal Game

Rishabh Pant finished the Border Gavaskar Trophy as India’s top run-getter even though he didn’t play the first Test. His second innings knock of 89* at Brisbane in 4th Test is now an integral part of Indian cricket history, while he also scored a crucial 97 in drawn 3rd Test at Sydney. Speaking to the Indian Express, Ajinkya Rahane said the team doesn’t need to give him much advice as he knows his game well.

“For a player like Rishabh, you don’t want him to think too much, or tell him too much… He knows his game really well, he plays in a certain fashion, and you don’t want to disturb that. Because of his innings, we were in a situation to win the Test match in Sydney… So for a player like him, you just want to leave him alone, back him and just ask him to play his normal game,” said Ajinkya Rahane.

Rishabh Pant has divided opinions among the cricket fraternity ever since making his India debut. However, after the historic series win against Australia, the 23-year-old is now a front-runner for the wicketkeeper’s slot in the longest format.

Rishabh Pant scored an attacking 97 in the third Test in Sydney. His innings had kept India’s hopes alive of a miracle win but unfortunately, it was not possible after he got out and Hanuma Vihari suffered a hamstring injury. India had to be content with a draw. Rishabh Pant finished the job in the fourth Test in Brisbane by remaining unbeaten on 89 as India chased down a record 328 to become the first side to beat Australia in Brisbane in 32 years.

Rishabh Pant Finished With 274 Runs In 3 Tests In Recent Tour And 350 Runs In 4 Tests In 2018-19

India went in with Wriddhiman Saha for the first Test, but they soon realized their mistake and went back to Rishabh Pant especially after Adelaide debacle where they registered lowest ever Test score of 36.

It was a bit surprising that the southpaw didn’t start the series as he had a decent outing in Australia last time. The left-handed batsman scored 350 runs at an average of 58.33, including a career-best of 159* in the 2018-19 series.

In the recently concluded series, he finished with 274 runs in three Tests. His incredible record against and in Australia indicate how Team India should allow Rishabh Pant’s natural game to flourish. In 7 Tests against Australia, he has 624 runs averaging 62.4.