MSK Prasad & Co Looking To Groom Backups For Rishabh Pant Across Formats

The selectors haven’t lost faith in Pant’s ability as of now but they are thinking of grooming his backups across formats

The Indian committee of selectors has been emphasising on Rishabh Pant as a backup option for veteran MS Dhoni. However, the young stumper from Delhi eventually failed to cash upon the chances he received recently. As a result, the MSK Prasad led committee is now thinking to groom backups for Pant across formats. According to an Indian Express, Prasad and his team are willing to monitor Pant’s workload and grooming his backups. “We are monitoring the workload of Rishabh. Of course, we have been grooming backups across all formats. We have the young KS Bharath doing well in the longer format for India A. We also have Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson doing well in the shorter formats for India ‘A’ and domestic cricket,” Prasad was quoted as saying. However, the selectors haven’t lost faith in Pant’s ability. “I have already said that post World Cup we have been concentrating on the progress of Rishabh. We need to be patient with him, considering the immense talent that he possesses,” the chief selector added. This decision came after the wicketkeeper-batsman let his team down with his shot selection in the 2^nd T20I against South Africa in Mohali. He had the opportunity to finish the game alongside skipper Virat Kohli as India were 94 for two after 11.4 overs, chasing 150 for victory. The required rate was much below 7 and Kohli was raring at the other end. He began his innings well but ended up getting caught at short fine leg. Ahead of the 2^nd match, newly-appointed batting coach Vikram Rathore also stressed on the fact that Pant needs to think his innings through. “I think he is a phenomenal player. There is no doubt about that. But what he needs to do is to sort his game plan. He needs to be more disciplined and all the young players like him need to understand that there is a fine line between fearless cricket and careless cricket,” Rathour had said.