In 4 matches, India wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant has only scored 154 runs, at an average of 22, raising doubts over his spot in the playing XI for the IND vs AUS Test in SCG, starting Jan 3. As per various reports/rumours, the team management might go with Dhruv Jurel, especially after the way Rishabh got out irresponsibly, eventually leading India’s downfall at the MCG.
Rumours of No Rishabh Pant for SCG Test
But then, former India opener Aakash Chopra has warned the team management against doing so. “Have the Indian team started thinking that they can drop Rishabh Pant, that they can get Rahul to keep and play Shubman Gill as well? Please don’t go down that route because you are not addressing the problem and focusing on the rest of the things,” he said.
“I agree Rishabh Pant hasn’t scored too many runs but, honestly speaking, he is looking better than the captain while playing, and he is a decent keeper as well. He has come with a very good reputation and has scored runs this season. He is not somebody who is unable to play at all. So don’t leave him out,” he added.
Don’t Drop Pant
“Everyone’s playing style is different. I believe two things are non-negotiable. One is how the pitch is playing and secondly, what is the state of the game. You cannot ignore these things. If your playing style harms that, your class will be taken. Since Rishabh Pant is spoken about, you can go after him if he has not scored runs,” he said.
“However, his way of getting out will remain like this because he scores runs like that only. Whoever lives by the sword, dies by the sword. He has created history because of this swordsmanship. You need to ask questions when he doesn’t score runs for a longer period of time. However, you will get this only from Rishabh Pant whether you like it or not,” he concluded.
Having said that, Rishabh Pant had come under severe criticism from Sunil Gavaskar, who had called his way of getting out in Melbourne first innings, “stupid, stupid, stupid”.
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