Since His Test Debut, Rishabh Pant Has Dropped More Catches Than Any Other Wicketkeeper In The World: Ricky Ponting

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting feels that Rishabh Pant has a lot of room for improvement as far as his wicketkeeping skills are concerned after the talented Indian southpaw had another tough day in the office behind the stumps.

Pant’s wicketkeeping once again came under the scanner as he dropped two relatively simple chances off debutant Aussie opener Will Pucovski, who cashed in to score his maiden half-century.

Pucovski was first dropped when he was on 26 after Ravichandran Ashwin set him up beautifully to induce an outside edge, only for Rishabh Pant to shell it.

Since the start of 2018, Rishabh Pant averages 0.86 dropped catches per Test played.

Of all keepers to play 10 matches in that time, Pant's drops-per-Test record is the worst.#AUSvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 7, 2021

Three overs later, Pant dropped another catch- this time a relatively tough one- off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj, who had induced a top-edge off the debutant’s bat following a well-directed bouncer.

Ponting, who had earlier advocated for the inclusion of Pant due to his superior batting skills as compared to Wriddhiman Saha, who was dropped after the first Test in Adelaide, said the southpaw needs to do a lot of work on his keeping skills and that he was lucky that Pucovski did not go on to convert his 50 into a 100 or even a double-hundred.

“The one’s (dropped catches) today are two that should be taken, simple as that,” Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au. “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,” he said.

“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.

Rishabh Pant catch success percentage in Tests:

v Pace – 93%
v Spin – 56%#AUSvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 7, 2021

Apart from the two dropped catches, India also missed out a run-out opportunity against Will Pucovski. However, the right-hander was eventually dismissed for 62 after he pinned right in front of the wicket by another debutant in Navdeep Saini.

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