MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant
MS Dhoni (L) and Rishabh Pant (R). Credit: Getty Images

Team India’s former chief selector MSK Prasad has explained the reason behind Rishabh Pant’s poor performance in international cricket. The former India wicketkeeper explained how the youngster has failed to perform at the highest level of the game after making a bright start.

Pant started his international career on a stunning note by scoring Test centuries in England and Australia. He also scored two fifties against West Indies in the 2018 home series. However, things have not unfolded in an expected manner in recent months.

Towards the start of 2020, Pant lost his place in the playing eleven across formats. At the start of the home season last year, India recalled veteran Wriddhiman Saha in the playing eleven to keep the wickets on the turning pitches. The decision turned out to be a masterstroke as Saha did a splendid job behind the stumps.

Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant (Credits: Twitter)

India persisted with him in the ODI and T20I teams as MS Dhoni was not available. However, the left-handed batsman failed to grab the chance. He suffered concussion during the first ODI against Australia in January and KL Rahul kept wicket when India took the field. Since then, Pant has been on the bench in the limited-overs format.

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He was recalled to the playing eleven in Tests during the tour of New Zealand this year but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

MSK Prasad on Rishabh Pant’s failure:

Explaining the reason behind the youngster’s failure, MSK Prasad said that Pant started comparing himself with his idol MS Dhoni and even tried to copy him in some aspects, which hurt his game. MSK Prasad stated that the constant comparisons with the legendary MS Dhoni were not helping the southpaw’s cause.

“Every time when Rishabh steps in, he is always compared with MS Dhoni, and probably, he is also getting caught in that euphoria. Many times, we spoke to him that he has to get over it,” MSK Prasad told Sportskeeda.

“He always was in this shadow of MSD. He started comparing himself with him. He started sort of copying him, even in mannerisms and all, if you see the way he does all that sort of stuff,” he added.

MSK Prasad
MSK Prasad (Credits: Twitter)

Well, with Dhoni retiring from international cricket, Pant is likely to get ample chances now. Dhoni’s retirement will also take some pressure off him. At present, he is gearing up for IPL 2020 which gets underway on September 19.

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