Ravi Shastri Comes In Support Of Struggling Rishabh Pant, Calls Him A World-Class Player

Team India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, who made a lot of noise with his bat before his international debut, has failed to live up to the expectations. Pant was the first choice wicket-keeper against West Indies and South Africa after MS Dhoni made himself unavailable. But the cricketer has been under a lot of criticisms after failing to put runs on the board. Head coach Ravi Shastri, who had earlier warned Pant to buckle up, now has made a u-turn and thrown his support to the underfire cricketer.

The team management looked at Pant as the no four option after the World Cup. The Delhi-born cricketer managed to score only one half-century in West Indies and his poor run continued against South Africa. Moreover, Rishabh Pant has failed to show maturity at that position throwing away his wickets playing rash shots.

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Popular perception says that either of Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan should get an opportunity after consistent shows in domestic cricket. But head coach Ravi Shastri, who had earlier criticised Rishabh Pant for showing immaturity, said that they will back the world-class player to the hilt to regain form.

“Pant is different, he is world-class and is a brutal match-winner. Very few around in the world game; I can’t pick five on my hands when it comes to white-ball cricket, T20 cricket. So the patience we will have with him is a lot. All your media reports and all the experts writing (but) Pant is in great space with this Indian team.

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Experts, they have a job, they can speak. Pant is a special kid and he has already done enough. And he is only going to learn. This team management will back him to the hilt,” Shastri said.

Meanwhile, it is likely that Rishabh Pant might lose his wicket-keeping spot to Wriddhiman Saha for the South Africa Tests. Many are of the view that in turning Indian pitches where Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be an action in tandem, Pant will face difficulties considering his glovework has come under the scanner time again.

The first of the three-match Test series will kick off on October 2 (Wednesday) in Visakhapatnam.