Rishabh Pant disappointed his Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting after his ordinary show as a wicket-keeper on day 1 of the SCG Test. Pant dropped two easy chances on Day 1 as several fans and cricket experts immensely criticised India’s gloveman. The 23-year-old gave debutant Will Pucovski two chances which he should have snaffled behind the stumps.
In all fairness, both were regulation catches which a wicket-keeper is expected to take at the highest level. However, at first, Pant missed a faint edge when he was keeping to spinner R. Ashwin. Then three overs later he couldn’t hold on to a top edge from Pucovski as he was slow to get to the ball and eventually dropped it.
Rishabh Pant needs to work on his keeping- Ricky Ponting
Luckily for team India and Pant, the Aussie opener Pucovski was dismissed in the last session. After the day’s play, Ponting pointed out that Pant has dropped the most catches as a wicket-keeper since making his debut. Ricky Ponting added that Pant was extremely lucky as Pucovski couldn’t carry on and register a big hundred. The legendary former cricketer believes Pant still has work to do on his keeping skills if he wants to become a regular in India’s squad.
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“The one’s (dropped catches) today are two that should be taken, simple as that. It’s probably lucky for Rishabh that Pucovski didn’t go on and make a big hundred or a double hundred and looking at the wicket, it looks like an unbelievable surface”, Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au.
“I’m sure when Rishabh put those catches down, he would have thought the worst and ‘here we go, he’s really going to make me pay’ but (Pucovski) didn’t today. I’ve said it all along, the knock-on Rishabh is always going to be on his keeping”, he added.
“Since his debut in Test cricket, he’s dropped more catches than any other keeper in the world. That highlights he has got some work to do with his keeping.” Ponting said.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant will be aiming to have a better day behind the stumps on day 2 of the Test match. The opening day somewhat belonged to Australia as they lost only 2 wickets and scored 166 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will resume batting tomorrow and both will be looking to bat big and post a mammoth first innings score.
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