Ravi Shastri speaks on Rishabh Pant’s place in the Indian team
Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has spoken on Rishabh Pant’s future in the Indian team. Shastri has backed Pant to come good in international talent, claiming he will have the full backing of the team management.
Pant has come in for some severe criticism from many Indian fans. His shot selection, execution and temperament have all been questioned. There is a belief brewing that Pant is often incapable of shouldering responsibility while batting and throws his wicket away despite his undoubted talent.
Shastri himself recently issued a severe warning to Pant. The coach had stated after a string of failures from the wicketkeeper-batsman that rash shots would not be tolerated. In an interview with Star Sports, Shastri had said:
“We’ll let him be but at times when you see a shot, like the first ball dismissal in Trinidad, if he repeats that, then he will be told. There will be a rap on the knuckles, talent or no talent. As simple as that. Because you are letting the team down, forget letting yourselves down. In a situation where you have the captain at the other end, a target to chase, the need of the hour is sensible cricket.”
In an interview with Hindustan Times though, Shastri has clarified his previous comments while praising Pant’s abilities. Shastri stated that Pant had already done enough and was in a good space in the Indian team:
“Pant is different, he is world-class and is a brutal match-winner. Very few around in the world game; I can’t pick five on my hands when it comes to white-ball cricket, T20 cricket. So the patience we will have with him is a lot. All your media reports and all the experts writing (but) Pant is in great space with this Indian team. Experts, they have a job, they can speak. Pant is a special kid and he has already done enough. And he is only going to learn. This team management will back him to the hilt.”
When further quipped on his previous statement about the team management giving Pant a ‘rap on the knuckles’, Shastri stated firmly that it was him who issued the statement.
“Don’t say team management, I spoke about ‘the rap on the knuckles’. If someone goofs up, I have to pull them up. Am I there only to play tabla? But this guy is world-class, this guy can be destructive, can be a destroyer. And we will give him all the support that he needs to prosper in international cricket.”
Pant will next be seen in action during the three-match Test series against South Africa. He will have competition on his shoulders though, with veteran Wriddhiman Saha making a strong case for his selection. The first Test of the series will get underway at Visakhapatnam on October 2nd.
