Rishabh Pant has been under scrutiny for his ineffective batting in T20s for a long time. But since they’ve been made stand-ins India Captain, he is being closely monitored. Pant was given the responsibility after KL Rahul was ruled out of the entire T20I series against South Africa due to a back injury. The team has done commendable work in the last few matches from a 0-2 draw to level the series 2-2, but the wicketkeeper-batsman has faced criticism from fans and experts for his poor batting.
Pant has scored only 57 runs in the last 4 matches at an average of just 14. Apart from this, his dismissal pattern has been the same in all the four matches; Playing the ball wide from outside and outside to fielder inside the 30-yard circle.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra previewed the final encounter in his latest YouTube video and highlighted Pant’s misery with the bat as one of the major problems for Team India.
He said, ‘More than his form, he is falling prey to South Africa’s strategy. That is the big question. The visitors are repeatedly bowling outside the off-stump and they get stuck. As we have already discussed, there are two options for playing those deliveries. Either you go a little further and play it at long-off or play it down the ground towards the off side,” Chopra said in his latest video.
The cricketer-turned-commentator said the time has come for Pant to get ready as he will be going to England for the Edgbaston Test.
So getting out is also a big question. He may be the captain for now but who knows… as this Team India keeps on making changes based on individual performance. So, Pant will have to go back to the saddle as he will not play in Ireland after that (South Africa T20Is). Instead, he is 5. will go to england forth testing. He needs form,” said Chopra.
The stand-in Indian captain will be hoping to make a significant contribution to the series decider against South Africa, scheduled to be played in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 19.
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