Pant to work under specialist coach, needs to improve keeping: MSK Prasad
PTI, Dec 23, 2019, 5:35 PM IST
New Delhi: A specialist will be employed to help embattled India cricketer Rishabh Pant improve his wicket-keeping skills, chief selector MSK Prasad said here on Monday.
Not long ago, Pant had worked under former India keeper Kiran More, seeking to improve his glove-work. The 22-year-old was slammed by fans for spilling a few chances in the third and final One-day International against the West Indies in Cuttack on Sunday.
“Pant needs to improve his keeping skills. We will have him work under a specialist wicket-keeping coach,” Prasad told reporters here after the Indian team selection for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and Australia.
While he has received unflinching backing from the team management, it has come to the conclusion that Pant needs special attention. Pant has also been criticized for his failure to perform consistently at the top level.
Home crowds chanted MS Dhoni’s name when Pant had an ordinary outing behind the wickets in the recently-concluded series against Bangladesh and the West Indies. Pant, though, also found support from some quarters, including the legendary Brian Lara.
“As a 21 (22) year-old, Rishabh Pant has a lot of unnecessary pressure. When I was 21, I did not have that much pressure. I was sitting down on the bench… you know, cleaning Sir Vivian Richards’s boots or doing something, getting ready to play international cricket,” Lara had said.
“I think the burden is unnecessary. He should be allowed to play and allowed to express himself. Don’t feel it’s a do-or-die situation,” he added.
Notably, captain Virat Kohli had said it was disrespectful to see the crowd chanting Dhoni’s name instead of cheering for Pant.
Even the BCCI President and former skipper Sourav Ganguly firmly backed Pant, saying the wicketkeeper-batsman is a “superb player” who would mature slowly.
More had said Pant should not be compared with Dhoni or Wriddhiman Saha.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
IPL 2024: I’ll sleep better, says Faf du Plessis
IPL 2024: Patidar, spinners help RCB snap six-match losing streak
Gukesh credits Vishwanathan Anand for his Chess journey
Indian prodigy D Gukesh returns triumphant to cheering crowds in Chennai
Credit to Stoinis as it didn’t seem like 210 track: KL Rahul
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Aranthodu: Pillion rider killed in car-motorbike collision
Rahul Gandhi to address two public meetings in Karnataka today
Siddaramaiah meets Neha Hiremath’s family, offers condolences
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Bengaluru bigwigs cast votes early
LS Elections 2024: Brisk voting in Udupi & Dakshina Kannada; EVM snag delays polling in some booths