Rishab Pant not disturbed by the comments made by MSK Prasad

Delhi’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is unfazed by the comments made by chief selector MSK Prasad on the next line of wicket-keepers to fill MS Dhoni’s boots. Pant said that he is focused on scoring runs for the team, which according to him is the prime matter of importance.

The left-handed batsman is not in the best of forms for Delhi this season in the Ranji Trophy. Delhi’s 20-year-old keeper’s form has diminished, although he has scored runs at an excellent pace. In the first innings of the Ranji Trophy finals too, the left-hander could only muster 21 runs before hitting one straight to the fielder off Rajneesh Gurbani’s bowling. Pant has been time to time criticised for not using his mind when batting.

“I should not worry about all this. I don’t think about all this at all. My job is to perform, score as many runs as possible,” Pant said as per quotes on TOI at the end of opening day’s play against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy finals.

Pant doubling as skipper-keeper

Further, Pant has been handed the Delhi captaincy which has doubled up his pressure. Rumours suggested that the left-handed batsman could not cope up with the pressure of captaining his state in the Ranji Trophy.

MSK Prasad earlier this week said that MS Dhoni remains as the best wicketkeeping option for the country in limited-overs cricket despite the form showed by Pant and Sanju Samson.

“There is no comparison and I don’t see any wicket-keeper, who can even come close to him (Dhoni) in world cricket, leave alone Indian Cricket,” Prasad had said, more or less sealing the fate of all young keepers such as Pant and Sanju Samson till the 2019 World Cup.

Delhi at the end of the day are at 271/6, with centurion Dhruv Shorey still ashore alongside tail-ender Vikas Mishra. It would take some bowling from the Vidarbha bowlers to dismiss the centurion, whose form is second best to none.

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