Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been under fire for his recent outings. Inducted into the Indian team as a potential replacement of veteran MS Dhoni, Pant has been inconsistent in delivering with the bat.
Many cricket pundits have suggested replacing him with Wriddhiman Saha in the upcoming South Africa Tests. However, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has clarified that the Delhi stumper will be ‘backed to the hilt’ to help realise his mettle.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Shastri termed Pant a ‘special Kid’ who 'will be backed by the team management' as he ‘has already done enough’.
“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,” Shastri was quoted as saying.
“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,” he added.
Shastri further spoke on his ‘rap on the knuckles’ statement and said, ‘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.”
While Pant’s talent has been acknowledged by many, he has also faced the heat following the ways in which he gets dismissed and failing to put a value on his wicket. As Dhoni has once again extended his break from cricket, Pant has an opportunity to save his spot in the Indian side that will go to Australia for the World T20 next year.