Mohammad Kaif tries to decipher Indian cricket’s mis-planning with Rishabh Pant

Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif has tried to figure out Indian cricket’s loopholes in planning surrounding Rishabh Pant. The youngster from Uttarakhand has been thought about as a successor to MS Dhoni, who last played more than a year ago in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. However, Pant hasn’t quite been able to cement his place in either of the three formats.

He suffered an injury during India’s home series against Australia earlier this year. Thereafter, KL Rahul impressed with both willow and the keeping gloves, after which Pant has had to warm the benches on most occasions. The 39-year-old Kaif, who retired from the game back in 2018, said that the national team management should give him clarity of his batting position.

Moreover, the veteran reckons that Pant should play his attacking brand of cricket. Kaif put forth his opinions during a live chat with former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra on the latter’s YouTube channel.

Rishabh Pant is an attacking batsman, says Kaif

“Rishabh Pant is a free-flowing player. You have to set his batting position, that he will bat at this position and he will get this many overs to play. He needs to be clear in his head that he will get this many overs so that he is not thinking whether he needs to take singles, or if he needs to defend. He is an attacking batsman, he should start hitting attacking shots from the first ball,” Kaif said.

Kaif also revealed how Pant is managed by Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting in the Delhi Capitals (DC). Pant has played some match-winning knocks for them over the last couple of years and has been an indispensable member of their setup. Kaif said that the Capitals always wanted the southpaw to play out 10 overs.

“So, at Delhi Capitals, me, Dada and Ricky Ponting discussed a few times that whether to send Pant at no. 3 or no. 4. But later we decided that Pant should get at least 60 balls to play. It doesn’t matter which position he is batting at, he needs to get final 10 overs. This thing has not yet been decided by the Indian team,” Kaif added.