Afraid that the Indian team management might soon overtake Rishabh Pant in T20Is, former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes the wicketkeeper-batsman did not understand what his role in the team meant. Sometimes he becomes either overly cautious or careless.
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During the recently concluded three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand which the former clean sweep, Pant scored 33 runs in three innings. Of these, 17 runs were scored in an innings.
However, in his defence, in those two innings, he did not have much runs to score, came out to bat late in the innings chasing India’s target. However, when India batted first in the third and final T20I in Kolkata, it could manage only four runs.
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Overall, the 24-year-old has played 41 T20Is so far and has scored 623 runs at an average of 23.07 and a strike-rate of 122.87. Vettori feels that Pant has failed to perfect his pace in the shortest format.
India Today quoted Vettori as saying, “He (Pant) has not kept his pace in T20 cricket. He has not fully understood his role, especially in this series. Sometimes he is overly cautious, So he is careless.”
“It doesn’t seem like there is any flow in his game. When you see great T20 batsmen bat well, it’s about flow and pace and you just feel a rhythm to it. He hasn’t got it yet,” he said.
Vettori feels that until Pant understands what the team wants from him, the team management can explore other options. However, he is hopeful that the youngster will get enough chances to find his rhythm.
“I would be surprised if they (team management) don’t talk to them long and hard about what they expect from them,” he said. But, the onus is on Pant to find that right pace. The reality is that if he doesn’t, they can look elsewhere. He has Ishan Kishan and can keep wickets in KL T20 as well.
“They will give Pant a chance to find his rhythm, knowing that he can change very quickly,” he added.
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