Ind vs WI ODI series: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is an unpredictable and quite a polarizing character. He could play a magical knock to script one of the nation’s most iconic victories, as he did in the Gabbatoir breach against Australia, while he also has a reckless side to his game which was exposed in the recently concluded bilateral series against South Africa. Sunil Gavaskar has golden advice for Rahul Dravid to share with him. Follow India vs West Indies Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
The 24-year-old blew hot and cold in that series in the rainbow nation. He played a couple of spectacular knocks – a century in the Cape Town Test and an 85 in the second ODI at Paarl, who he also threw his wicket away foolishly in the Johannesburg Test and the third ODI.
Ind vs WI ODI series: Sunil Gavaskar shares GOLDEN advice to Rahul Dravid for Rishabh Pant’s bright future – check out
Speaking on Rishabh Pant’s on-and-off show, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has stated that the lad from Delhi could be a real showstopper for the men in blue if head coach Rahul Dravid asks him to spend a little more time at the crease before he starts playing the unorthodox shots.
“We all know what he is capable of. We all are changing our views and opinions about him every other day. One day he plays a blinder of an innings, the next day he plays a shot which makes you wonder. But somewhere down the line, my feeling is that Rahul Dravid will sit him down and tell him what a marvellous talent he is. And all that he needs to do is to give himself a little bit of time in the middle like he did in Australia,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Today.
Ind vs WI ODI series: Sunil Gavaskar shares GOLDEN advice to Rahul Dravid for Rishabh Pant’s bright future – check out
It’s not that Rishabh Pant can’t play patient knocks. In Ahmedabad against England in Test, he showed he could take the blow of the pitch. But his “always in a hurry” approach has also cost Team India. India lost the 3rd ODI and the Johannesburg Test in South Africa thanks to his reckless shot selection.
“The reason we bring that Australia Tests up is that when he scored that 96 in Sydney, 89 is Brisbane, he gave himself time and only after that he started to go for the big shots. And that’s because it becomes easier. You know what the pitch is doing, your feet are moving, you eye is set. And with all those shots, even if he scores 0 off 10 deliveries, in the next 4 he can score 16,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Ind vs WI ODI series: Sunil Gavaskar shares GOLDEN advice to Rahul Dravid for Rishabh Pant’s bright future – check out
As India will be aiming to bounce back from the horror show in South Africa, Rishabh Pant will be key. He has done well as India’s new No 4. As Rohit Sharma-led Team India wants to zero in on a particular template for the T20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup in 2023, Rishabh Pant will play a major role and will share a great responsibility.
IND vs WI: India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan
Ind vs WI ODI series: Sunil Gavaskar shares GOLDEN advice to Rahul Dravid for Rishabh Pant’s bright future – check out
Editors pick
