Rishabh Pant became the talk of the town for his heroics in Australia and helping team India clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, ever since Australia the left-handed batsman has not been able to replicate the same magic that he did Down-Under. The batsman has been receiving a lot of backlash for his irresponsible shot-making and now former cricketer Madal Lal has expressed his opinion on the same.
In the recently concluded second Test match between India and South Africa, Pant got out for a duck playing a rash shot. The team needed him to build a partnership with Hanuma Vihari, but the southpaw tried to play an expensive shot which cost him his wicket and perhaps the match to India. After losing Pujara and Rahane in quick succession, team India needed Pant to play a responsible inning, which he couldn’t do. Madal Lal expressed his views on the channel Aaj Tak and made a big statement.
Madan Lal suggests a change in line-up
“He should be given a break. And you have someone like Wriddhiman Saha. He is a sensible batsman. He is a very good wicketkeeper. But Pant has to decide how he wants to bat in Test cricket. If there is some doubt in his mind, it is better to give him a break. He is a match-winning player, but you cannot bat like this. You have to bat for the team and not for yourself,” said Madan Lal talking to Aaj Tak.
Team India’s middle-order has been brittle in the past two years with Kohli, Pujara and Rahane not performing to their potential. The team needs a responsible Rishabh Pant who can steady the ship when the chips are down, however the batsman has not been as successful as he was in Australia. The team’s head coach Rahul Dravid also shared that the think tank will talk to Pant regarding his shot-making.
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The team will hope that Pant plays a responsible inning in the decider which is going to start from 11th January in Cape Town. Virat Kohli will also be making a comeback in the third Test and will lead the troops. The Indian Test skipper was out of action in the second Test due to an upper back spasm. The Indian team will look to dominate South Africa and clinch the series which will be a historic moment for Indian cricket.