Rishabh Pant was named the Indian T20I Captain in absence of KL Rahul for the 5 match T20I series against South Africa. The series ended at 2-2. Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria expressed his views on the fitness and batting of Rishabh Pant.
It was a big opportunity for Rishabh to prove his worth as a player and Captain in T20I. However, he failed badly as batsman in this series. Pant managed to score just 57 runs in 5 T20I matches at a poor average of 14.35. Pant also had a strike rate below 125 in this series. He failed to create his impact.
Danish Kaneria raised questions over the fitness of Pant. Kaneria feels that Rishabh isn’t physically in right shape. Danish called Rishabh as “slightly overweight and bulky”. Kaneria said: “I want to talk about Rishabh Pant’s keeping. I have noticed one thing that when a fast bowler is bowling, he doesn’t crouch and sit down.”
Danish Kaneria further said: “He keeps standing. Maybe because he is slightly overweight and bulky, he can’t come up that quickly, and he doesn’t have that much of time. He just stays bent back and low, he doesn’t sit down properly. I think that shows a little concern over his fitness. Is Rishabh Pant fully fit?”
“Pant will have to improve his batting style”- Danish Kaneria
Several cricketers like Wasim Jaffer and Dale Steyn have said that Dinesh Karthik should be preferred above Rishabh Pant for T20 WC. Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria also criticised the batting style of Rishabh Pant. Kaneria adviced Pant to improve his batting style and play with maturity.
“Rishabh Pant will have to improve his batting style. There is KS Bharat available and I don’t see any wrong in bringing in Wriddhiman Saha. Just give a break to Rishabh Pant.”, added former Pakistan spinner.
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