'Your ego is more important than winning match?' - RP Singh slams Rishabh Pant for irresponsible cricket against PBKS

Former Indian cricketers RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha have lashed out at the Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant for his poor display of batting in a group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 16. The left-handed batter lost his wicket to England’s all-rounder Liam Livingstone after playing an unnecessary shot as per the former Indian cricketers.

The DC skipper came at the crease after the fall of young batter Lalit Yadav who was dismissed in the last ball of the 11th over. The wicketkeeper-batter took a single on the first ball he faced. After getting the strike back, Pant smashed Livingstone for a maximum. As Livingstone was about to deliver the next ball, he stopped in his run-up for some reason. This seemed to have affected the DC skipper as he yet again charged out of his crease, but Livingstone showed some clever tactics and threw the ball wide and got Pant stumped.

Rishabh Pant should have taken more responsibility: RP Singh

“Your ego is more important than winning the match? The momentum had already shifted towards PBKS. You can’t blame Lalit Yadav, he is a youngster but Pant should have taken more responsibility. Livingstone set a trap and he fell right into it. He is not an established bowler. He was playing with his temper. He forced Pant into an ego battle,” RP Singh was quoted by Hindustan Times.

Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was not impressed with Pant as well. “He is an established batter. He is being looked at as an option for future (India) captaincy, someone who can be a match-winner for the Indian team for a long time. Who is match-winner? Hitting 4 sixes off 4 balls is not being a match-winner. Match-winner can build an innings, takes responsibility too,” Ojha added.

However, DC went on to win their previous contest against PBKS and will now play their final group stage match against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians on May 21 (Saturday) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.