Former legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar believes Rishabh Pant should be demoted to number five in the batting order. Gavaskar believes Pant should bat at number five which will give him breathing space. The former Indian opener stated that Pant can bat his natural game as he can add the finishing touches to the score while batting one position down the order.
Meanwhile, it is well known that Pant has an aggressive batting style. However, the team management has backed Pant to bat at number four. Pant’s poor shot selection has come under the scanner in the recent past and there is some pressure on the young batsman to deliver the goods.
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In fact, the rookie batting coach Vikram Rathour had recently stated that there is a fine line between fearless and careless cricket and Pant must understand it.
Pant needs to work on his shot selection.
“Giving him a bit of breathing space by slotting him at No. 5 could also help, for at that number he will invariably come in to bat where his aggressive batting is needed from the start rather than when he has to build his and the team’s innings,” Gavaskar wrote in Sunday Mid-Day. “Just like a little tweak in the grip can make a world of difference to a player as a bowler or as a batsman, so also a little tweak in the batting order could change the fortunes of a player.”
The Little Master believes that Pant will get better with experience. However, Sunil Gavaskar added that the southpaw batsman needs to work on his shot selection. Gavaskar went on to add that Pant should learn to bat according to match situations.
Needs to play according to match situations.
“In Pant’s case, it’s more of a case of wrong shot selection than anything else. People talk about him getting out to the first ball in Trinidad [in India’s previous series] but those same people were wah wahing [praising] his audacity in hitting the second ball he faced for a six in his debut innings [in Tests]. So the young man has to bear in mind the fickle nature of the Indian fans and play the way he knows.
“With the experience, he will be better at the shot selection and will be more consistent but right now he needs a hand around his shoulders rather than a public dressing down. The most important thing for the young man to understand is that he has to play according to the situation and not according to the expectations of the public.”
Rishabh Pant will aim to make a solid comeback. The aggressive batsman has been criticized for his shot-making and it is the high time he starts making the most of his opportunities. Pant will be in action for the final T20I against South Africa today at Bangalore.
