Rishabh Pant will evolve with time, believes Deep Dasgupta

The former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta feels that the young Rishabh Pant will evolve with time and come out of the poor form. The sensational left-hander is going through the lean phase currently and in the process has also lost the place in the national side. Though he has only played a couple of T20Is for India, he was in the plans but his form faded at the wrong time for him as the selectors went back to Dinesh Karthik. He performed well and might well be with the team for a long time now.

Pant was a sensation in the last Ranji Trophy season when he amassed 972 runs at a strike rate of 107.28 in eight matches. But this year, he is yet to smash a century in the domestic cricket and also for the ‘A’ side. His highest score this season so far is 67 which he scored against New Zealand ‘A’ in Vijayawada. However, he needs to come back into the groove soon before going out of contention. He is also being seen as the potential replacement for the Indian stalwart MS Dhoni after his retirement behind the wickets.

He needs to be patient

The former cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Vivek Razdan feel that Rishabh Pant should analyse his dismissals and work on it. They also opined he should continue playing his natural game and should not curb it due to the poor form. “If you are getting out in 30s and 40s, you have to analyse why this is happening. Then if you are getting out in a certain pattern, you have to sit with your coach and sort it out,” Dasgupta said as quoted by Times of India.

“If there is no pattern and you are getting out in different ways, then it’s a worry. It is here the mental side of the game is tested. I am sure Pant will evolve with time. Last year he got runs through similar technique and style. But scoring in the Ranji Trophy is a different ball game. You have to go through the grind. Pant must be feeling that a big one is only a knock away because there is the pressure of his own reputation. He has to spend more time at the crease,” he continued.

Vivek Razdan suggested the youngster to concentrate more on his shot selections and play his natural game. “Pant’s core strength lies in hitting the ball out of the park and he shouldn’t try to change that. You have got to be choosy about your shots. This is where mental growth comes into play. Everyone knows your style now and that you are talented, this is the time to get over the huddle and be patient,” he said.