Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Rishabh Pant is under no pressure to retain his place in the T20 team, even as he highlighted that when shot-selection in the shortest format of the game When it comes to the wicketkeeper-batsman, there can be improvement.
Rishabh Pant, in his first stint as India captain, helped India trail 0-2 in a T20I series against South Africa, which Finished in a 2-2 draw on Sunday, The final T20I in Bengaluru was called off after just 21 balls due to incessant rain in the southern Indian city.
The spotlight was on Rishabh Pant throughout the series as the star batsman failed to deliver with the bat, scoring just 58 runs in 5 innings in the T20I series. Pant was out on a couple of occasions chasing wide deliveries as he continued to fall prey to South Africa’s plans.
With the return of Dinesh Karthik and a place for the wicketkeeping slot for the T20 World Cup after Ishan Kishan’s consistent performances, questions are being asked over Pant’s place in the team. The young wicketkeeper, who has become an essential member of the Test team, has been struggling for consistency in the shortest format of the game, averaging just 23 in 48 matches.
“I don’t think so. It’s early days. There’s a lot of T20 matches left. There’s a T20 series in England, there’s a T20 series in West Indies. I don’t think there will be any matches. Pressure on him. He’s not that kind of character. One who takes the pressure, goes out and enjoys his cricket. And it is this mindset that has brought him success,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“I will wait because there are still a lot of T20 matches before the World Cup. We can wait and then look at the form. We can decide anything but the final decision is up to the selectors,” he said.
Gavaskar praises Captain Pant
Meanwhile, Gavaskar lauded Pant’s captaincy, saying that the young captain quickly learned from his mistakes. Pant’s bowling changes were questioned in the first 2 T20Is that India lost, but the stand-in captain mostly made the right calls as India bounced back to make it 2-2.
“Very impressive, especially the way he picked up from the first two games, where we felt it was not the right way as far as the change in bowling is concerned. Clearly, he has learned from mistakes and it has to be done.” He has improved. He has kept his cool. Being wicketkeeper and captain is not easy. It is very difficult situation to be in. He is learning and learning fast.”
Pant will not be part of India’s T20I series in Ireland as the wicketkeeper-batsman will join Test specialists who have been training in London for the one-off Test against England from July 1.
Pant admitted that He is expected to contribute more to the team with the bat, after returning to normal with the bat during the Test series at Old Blighty last year.