IND vs SA: I Would Have Stopped Rishabh Pant From Becoming Captain, Wouldn't Have Allowed It - Madan Lal
Published - 22 Jun 2022, 02:28 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:09 AM
Former India World Cup-winning all-rounder Madan Lal wasn’t in favour of Rishabh Pant skippering the Indian team just yet, believing that the youngster must first demonstrate the strength of character as a batter, which will reflect on his leadership capabilities.
Despite being a good candidate to captain India in the future, Madan, a former BCCI selector, and the coach believes that Pant, 24, still has a ways to go.
The Indian team’s first season under the leadership of Rishabh Pant was rather exciting. Pant, who was named skipper a day before the India vs. South Africa T20I series began because KL Rahul could not play due to a groins injury, dropped the first two games.
Once the series was tied, Pant and his young Indian team rallied to win the third and fourth T20Is. Despite all of this, Pant’s batting continued to be a problem, and he also lost every toss.
‘Rishabh Pant isn’t going anywhere anytime soon’: Madan Lal
Despite being a good candidate to captain India in the future, Madan Lal, a former BCCI selector and coach, believes that Pant, 24, still has a ways to go. The former India World Cup champion all-rounder does not support Pant leading the Indian team at this time because he believes the young batsman must first demonstrate maturity as a batter before his leadership abilities can be evaluated.
“He would not have been made captain if I had not intervened. Certainly not permitted it. Because later on, this obligation needs to be entrusted to such a player. It is a major deal to captain India. He is still a child. He will not be leaving anytime soon. He will mature as he plays more as a result, “On Sports Tak, Lal stated.
Later this month, the Indian T20I team will play again when it hosts Ireland for a two-T20I series. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will captain the team in the shortest format while Pant prepares for the England Test.
