IND vs SA: IND vs SA: Harbhajan Singh Has A Crucial Advice For Rishabh Pant Ahead Of Cape Town Test

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has a crucial piece of advice for wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant heading into the third Test in Cape Town. The series is level at 1-1 with the final Test giving India a chance to create history in South Africa. Pant came under the scanner for his performance with the bat in the second Test and might lose his place in the XI to Wriddhiman Saha.

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Rishabh Pant was criticised for throwing his wicket away attempting a big shot against Lungi Ngidi very early in his innings and losing his wicket in the process. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh advised him to take a bit more time in his innings before playing the big shots.

“Rishabh Pant is a talented player and the kind who can win India matches single-handedly. If an Indian wicketkeeper has played good cricket on overseas pitches, played match-winning innings, it is him. Those innings have come out of his bat. Should we stick with him? Because of the kind of shots he has played and the way he has got out. Sometimes I feel those shots were unnecessary. Had he spent more time on the wicket, he could have scored more runs,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube video.

“But at the same time, if the same shots click, we say ‘What a bold player. He comes with positive intent from the first ball’. What I feel is that positive intent is one thing… it doesn’t mean that you start stepping out and playing shots. Even when you play a defensive stroke, that too can be from a positive intent. If you go and start swinging your bats and play such shots, the question will be raised at you,” added Harbhajan.

Adding more to his point, the former Indian spinner said that though Rishabh Pant might bat with a positive intent while trying to hit big shots, it does not look the same way from the outside. He further said that Pant needs to have a word with coach Rahul Dravid about his game.

Rahul Dravid Needs To Speak To Rishabh Pant: Harbhajan Singh

“I would really want to see Pant getting more chances. He is a match-winner, and the day he plays those innings, he would win India the match. Rahul Dravid needs to speak with him in terms of batting in a certain approach. Smoking sixes is not everything. Taking singles and leaving balls are important too.”

So far in the two-Test matches, Rishabh Pant has scored 59 runs from two Test matches at an average of 14.75.

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