Rishabh Pant, the stand-in skipper has struggled to score big in the ongoing T20I series against Proteas. He has been able to gather just 57 runs in four games so far.
Before the start of the T20I assignment against South Africa, maverick Rishabh Pant said he will make the most of his unexpected chance to captain India after KL Rahul was ruled out to injury. Four games hence, the stand-in captain’s poor showing with the bat is a hot topic of debate, especially when the Indian team is trying to find the perfect eleven in the lead-up to this year’s T20I World Cup in Australia.
Rishabh Pant Seems Overweight And Being Bulky He Doesn’t Have Time To Come Up Quickly: Danish Kaneria
Trying to reach for the ball that’s not in his hitting arc, the 24-year-old Rishabh Pant has been caught in the deep multiple times in the series trying to hit a maximum off wide balls pitched outside offside. The Proteas bowlers have plotted Rishabh Pant’s dismissal by sticking to a wide line and the Indian looks to iron out chinks in the series decider in Bengaluru on June 19 (Sunday).
While the focus remains on Rishabh Pant’s leadership and lean patch with the willow, former Pakistan tweaker Danish Kaneria has pointed out a wicketkeeping flaw as well. Danish Kaneria feels Rishabh Pant doesn’t crouch much behind the sticks due to his weight.
“I want to talk about Pant’s wicketkeeping. I’ve noticed one thing – he doesn’t squat lower and sit on his toes when a fast bowler is bowling. Seems like he is overweight and being bulky doesn’t give him that much time to come up quickly. It raises concern over his fitness. Is he 100 percent fit? But when it comes to his captain, bowlers and batters including Hardik and Karthik have supported him well. Pant also has a chance to become the first captain to win a T20 series against South Africa,” said Danish Kaneria on his YouTube channel.
Rishabh Pant has managed just 57 runs at a mediocre average of 14.25 and an equally poor strike rate of 105.55 in the four games thus far. The stand-in Indian skipper will be hoping to make a telling contribution in the series decider to be played in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 19. Rishabh Pant has struggled with the bat in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa so far, having registered scores of 29, 5, 6, and 17.
Danish Kaneria Praised Dinesh Karthik And Hardik Pandya For Playing Memorable Innings At Rajkot
Danish Kaneria further lavished praise on Dinesh Karthik, who notched up his maiden T20I fifty to add crucial runs to India’s total at Rajkot. The in-form batter teamed up with Hardik Pandya and the pair revived the innings with a brisk partnership of 65 runs. Dinesh Karthik smashed nine fours and two sixes in his entertaining 55-run knock, while Hardik Pandya hit 46 off 31 balls.
“India was struggling big time but Hardik and Karthik helped the team get to 169. Karthik loves to sweep and use his feet. Everything was going his way. It was a ‘DK Day’. He batted with maturity. Hardik also showed responsibility. He started off cautiously but produced big hits in the end. He played a gem of an innings,” said Danish Kaneria.
Dinesh Karthik has been the center of all discussions following India’s series-leveling win against South Africa in Rajkot. He scored his maiden fifty in the shortest format of the game in the previous 4th T20I, playing a massive role in clinching an 82-run victory against the Proteas. His inning was laced with 9 fours and 2 maximums, reaching the milestone off 26 balls.
Dinesh Karthik made his India debut in 2004 and went on to play India’s first-ever T20I match in 2006. If all goes well, he will play the ICC T20I World Cup 2022 at the ripe age of 37 plus. Dinesh Karthik has scored 92 runs averaging 46 in 4 games in the ongoing 5 matches T20I series against South Africa.