Credit For Rishabh Pant's Improved Keeping Goes To R Sridhar And Wriddhiman Saha: VVS Laxman
Updated - 08 Aug 2021, 02:15 AM
Former Indian middle-order batsman VVS Laxman has hailed the amount of work Rishabh Pant has done on his keeping. While Rishabh Pant has emerged as one of the biggest match-winners for India with the bat, the youngster has impacted the game behind the stumps too. VVS Laxman revealed that plenty of credit goes to R Sridhar and Wriddhiman Saha.
Rishabh Pant’s keeping at the start of his Test career raised plenty of questions as he missed plenty of stumpings. However, the 23-year old has upgraded drastically this year. He was on the top of his game in the ongoing Test against England in Nottingham. Pant kept exceptionally well even as the ball kept moving throughout the day, taking four catches behind the stumps, including two diving ones.
When asked VVS Laxman how impressed was he, the former Indian cricketer hailed Rishabh Pant and credited R Sridhar and Wriddhiman Saha for the progress. The 47-year old feels Pant’s glovework had already begun looking good from the Chennai Test against England earlier this year. Laxman remarked that while the southpaw’s batting carried plenty of potential, his keeping has also upgraded, thanks to R Sridhar and Wriddhiman Saha.
“Very impressed. I think credit should be given to the fielding coach R Sridhar and Wriddhiman Saha because there was a drastic change in Rishabh Pant’s keeping in the Chennai Test match against England. I was a little skeptical as the one thing Rishabh Pant needed to improve was his keeping. He has done so much with his batting because he already had abundance of talent and potential. But his technique was not ideal; however, the way he has worked on his keeping, the way I speak, R Sridhar and Wriddhiman Saha have spent a lot of time,” Laxman told ESPN Cricinfo.
He’s so balanced behind the stumps: VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman observed that Rishabh Pant looks balanced behind the stumps and his movement was incredible on day four. The 134-Test veteran highlighted that these are the results of the hard work put in by him and plenty of practice too. Laxman conceded that keeping is a lot like batting and more training only yields better results.
“Now you see, he’s so balanced behind the stumps. Even though the ball was deviating so much, he was able to move and then dive and take the catch. It shows he has been working hard on his movements because keeping like batting is a lot about moving, being nimble on your feet and Rishabh Pant has done that. It is purely because of a lot of drills, a lot of practice and the more you practice, the more results will come your way. And that’s exactly what Pant has done,” he added.
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