Indian vs New Zealand 2019: Rishabh Pant Can't Afford to Waste Chances, Says Harbhajan Singh
Updated - 08 Feb 2019, 11:24 AM
Harbhajan Singh, the veteran off-spinner admitted that the young Indian National Cricket Team wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant can’t afford to lose chances as he did in the first T20I against New Zealand. In addition to, Harbhajan also said that if he continues to do so, Pant may lose his spot to Dinesh Karthik, who is sitting in the wings.
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh was extremely critical of Rishabh Pant’s shot selection in the first game. Mitchell Santner castled his stumps while Pant attempted to play a reverse-sweep. He managed to score just four runs off 10 deliveries before getting out in his first international game since the Sydney Test.
The men in blues were all out for 139 runs in pursuit of 220 after a poor display of batting. It was also their worst defeat in the history of the shortest format of the game. Harbhajan Singh feels Rishabh Pant needs to back his game and understand his game and play accordingly. Moreover, the veteran also added that the reverse sweep should be Pant’s last option when he has all other options in his armoury.
“I was a bit disappointed with his [Pant’s] shot selection. He tried to reverse sweep the fast bowler a couple of times. When you see a batsman playing shots like that, it tells he is not backing himself,” Harbhajan Singh told Sports Tak.
“He has to understand his game and strengths and play accordingly. He has all the shots in the book. He should keep the reverse sweep as the last option but he should keep it as his last option,” he added.
Karthik ready to take up
Harbhajan Singh also issued a warning to the Delhi lad that he might lose his spot if he keeps wasting his chances. He also backed Dinesh Karthik saying that he has done enough in the last few games and will slot in if Pant continues to keep getting out cheaply.
“Rishabh is a talented cricketer and that’s why we are backing him a lot. We know he can be a big match-winner. But if he keeps wasting his chances, keeps on playing innings and keeps making such shot selections, then I feel, Dinesh Karthik may take his spot.
“Dinesh Karthik is a proper batsman… he has been doing enough in the last few matches as well. So I think, Rishabh Pant needs to get going in the upcoming matches,” he concluded.
