‘Rishabh Pant is not utilising the chances, needs to reinvent himself’ - Former India selector disappointed over Pant’s recent form

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth expressed his concerns over wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant not making the most of his chances in the limited-overs format and suggested a break could help his case. Pant has struggled in the T20I format. He averages 22.43 and has a strike rate of 126.37 across 66 games for India. He has crossed the 40-run mark just once in his last ten innings. 

Although Pant’s ODI form has been quite encouraging in the last ten games with three half-centuries and one century, but the left-hander was yet again under the scanner after he just scored 15 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand. With Sanju Samson enjoying a brilliant run in the format in recent times, the pressure is piling up on Pant to perform. 

The Indian management haven’t handled Pant well: Kris Srikkanth 

Srikkanth suggested the management to try giving Rishabh Pant a break and felt that it’s better to give him a break now rather than removing him from the squad. He further noted the disappointment over Pant wasting his chances and reminded about the 50-overs World Cup coming up in a year's time.

The former Indian selector concluded that Pant needs to stop throwing his wicket away and wants him to reinvent his style of play.  

“Maybe you can give him (Pant) a break and tell him ‘just wait a bit, come and play in India,’ they haven’t handled him well. Are you going to wait for a couple of matches before giving him a break or remove him after one or two games?" Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka. 

“Yes, Rishabh Pant is not utilising the chances he’s getting. I am very disappointed - ennada Pant-u (what is this Pant)?" 

“You are messing up these chances. If you smash into such matches, it’ll be good right? The World Cup is coming up. Already a lot of people are saying that Pant isn’t scoring so it’ll add fuel to the fire. He’s going to put pressure on himself. He needs to reinvent himself. He has to do something right - stand and play for a while and then go for it…He’s throwing his wicket away all the time," he added.