Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif stated that his only complaint was that Rishabh Pant should have used ‘common sense’ instead of playing the aggressive step-down-and-hoick during the first innings of the first Test match against Sri Lanka.
Other aggressive batters, according to Kaif, show much better ‘cricketing logic’ than the Indian wicketkeeper batter without sacrificing their style. The argument with Pant never ends. He is a maverick who has frequently changed games in the middle order, assisting India in some of their most spectacular Test victories.
However, frustration results when his strategies do not work. For instance, he chose to unsuccessfully take on Keshara Nuwantha at Galle while batting at 39 (61) and in a 71-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal.
On a different day, his stroke may have provided Sri Lanka an easy way to get into ‘s bottom order, but it came entirely against the flow of the game.
Mohammad Kaif On Rishabh Pant
“I have no complaints about the way Rishabh Pant got out. He plays like that only, but the complaint is about common sense. It was the first over with the new ball. He jumped three times in that over. Common sense means play the cut shot. See the new ball for five to six overs. This is the tradition. Whoever plays like him also uses common sense,” Kaif said on Sony Sports.
“I was surprised that he jumped on the first ball (of the over). One needs to calculate a little. Even if a batter is on 150, he also plays out a few balls when the new ball comes. I am cutting a few marks there. He was left way behind in logic and cricketing sense,” he added.
In contrast to the previous few years, when Pant had almost no competition, he now has Dhruv Jurel, a wicketkeeper who is just as good, if not better, and plays in a more conventional manner. In this innings, Jurel scored 51 (68) with four boundaries and a six, matching Pant’s final strike rate.