‘Let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant’ - Rohit Sharma backs the left-hander to come good against England in the T20I series

India’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been in blistering form in the purest format of the game having played many match-defining knocks in the Test series against Australia and England. The youngster is expected to continue his red-hot form with the willow in the limited-overs format as he is all set to make a comeback in the shorter format for India after being named in the national squad for the T20I series against England. 

Pant’s inclusion in the Indian squad for the T20Is is crucial considering that India are scheduled to feature in two T20 World Cups in the coming times. Ahead of the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 at the newly-built Narendra Modi Stadium, India’s limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma lauded Pant for his tremendous form and backed him to do well in the upcoming games. 

“Let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant, he will come out and give you those performances. I have said in the past as well that leaves Rishabh Pant alone and he will give you those performances. He can only go from strength to strength from here. There is no looking back for him. He has done exceptionally well in the last few months from Australia to the home series that we just played against England,” Rohit said during a virtual press conference.

I don’t see anything stopping Rishabh Pant unless we try and put pressure on him: Rohit

While lauding Pant, Rohit reckoned that the youngster needs to play his natural game and enjoy being on the field as that is exactly what the management and players want from him. However, the veteran opener also asserted that the media and the fans shouldn’t pressurize the wicketkeeper and let him be himself.

“And I don’t see anything stopping him unless we try and put pressure on him. We, as in, you guys, I think it’s important for him to let him be himself. He likes to enjoy his game. You must have seen it on the ground, how he likes to play his game.

“And that is what we as team management and teammates expect from him too: to just be out there, enjoy the game, and do what he likes to do. The good thing right now is he has started to understand the game situation,” Rohit added.