Pant can change the whole outcome of the game in a few overs: KP Bhaskar

Rishabh Pant, who is now the skipper of the Delhi Ranji team faced massive criticisms due to his choice of shot in the previous match. The left-handed batsman was leading Delhi against Karnataka in Alur, in an important clash for the Northside. The team needed to get over 400 runs with Pant well settled at 41. All that they needed was for Pant to stay at the crease and play a big inning.

The 20-year-old who is well known for his massive-hitting ability slogged an arm ball from K Gowtham only to let it crash into his stumps. The story of this season has been drastically different from last year where he made 872 runs at a strike rate of 107.28.

Following his heroics in the Ranji season, the left-hander made his debut for India in a T20I against England in Bengaluru after which he got his chance only against West Indies before returning to the domestic arena.

Delhi coach KP Bhaskar believes that Pant’s way of playing the game can change the outcome of the game.

“His style is not to block and occupy the crease. He can change the whole outcome of the game in a few overs,” Bhaskar told ESPNcricinfo. “But shot selection is something he can work on, especially when playing for India and expectations are high. So then the responsibility automatically comes.”

Pant’s natural game

Further, the coach added that when Pant plays his natural game and fails it can be frustrating but no one can force him to change the way he plays.

“He understands his role well. His coach at Sonnet Cricket Club, Mr. Tarak Sinha, I’m sure, is keeping in touch with him and working on his game, because with me it’s only during the season,” he said. “But I’m sure Sinha would be guiding and advising him. He is quite receptive, but you can only advise. You can’t really force him to change the way you want him to play.”

However, he also mentioned that there is no point in curbing his natural instinct and aggression as that will only weaker his self-confidence.

“There’s no point asking him to curb his instincts. Players like (Krishnamachari) Srikkanth, Sandeep Patil, Kapil Dev were natural stroke-makers. How can you force or stop them? It doesn’t make sense. He’s very natural that way.” he concluded.