Sanjay Manjrekar, Rishabh Pant
Manjrekar has an advice for Rishabh Pant. Image Courtesy: Getty

Rishabh Pant carries a craze along his name, be it with his batting or his wicketkeeping. Of late though he’s known for chirping behind the stumps, as he got involved in friendly banter with Pat Cummins in Adelaide. The incident didn’t seem to do any harm to anyone until he dropped Shaun Marsh in Perth. Visibly speaking behind the wickets or encouraging the bowler, be it, either way, the cam-mic could record everything. However, cricketer-turned-commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar has adviced Pant to instead focus on his wicketkeeping than anything else.

Sanjay has advice for rookie Pant

On day one of the Perth Test, Pant dropped Shaun Marsh in the fag end of the day. Though the disappointment was seen on the faces of players, Marsh didn’t do much damage later on.

However, Australia in the first innings managed to hit 326 runs. Speaking of Pant particularly, he had given a lot of byes on the England tour, and despite his excellent catching ability, his keeping got questioned a few times.

Sanjay Manjrekar, Rishabh Pant
Sanjay wants Pant to concentrate more on his keeping than anything else. Image Courtesy: Getty

Even in the first Test in Adelaide, Pant didn’t look too convincing keeping the wickets. With the bat as well, the southpaw was not amongst the highest run-scorers either. Now, given the fact he has got age on his side, Pant can surely learn and get mature with time. Talking about the same to Mid Day, Sanjay Manjrekar said,

“In cricket, there has been a tradition… in all team meetings, the wicketkeeper is told to keep encouraging the bowler. The moment he dropped the catch of Shaun Marsh off Hanuma Vihari, suddenly he went quiet for two-three overs. That is when he has to be careful. If being quiet is going to help him focus better, then the Indian team would rather have him taking catches than looking to encourage the bowlers all the time or all that banter that goes around,”

Furthermore, Rishabh Pant created history by becoming the Indian with most catches in a Test in Adelaide (11). Though he could have achieved the world record of 12 scalps had he not dropped Nathan Lyon.

Read More  Rishabh Pant set to create history as 1st Delhi Capitals player to reach this milestone in IPL 2024

I am more than just a cricket lover. I have been breathing this game since I was three, and now I am making a living out of it. Also, FC Barcelona happens to be my second love, and evidently, I prefer...