Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Rishabh Pant
India took a danger by deciding on the 23-year-old Rishabh Pant forward of skilled gloveman Wriddhiman Saha within the second and third Tests towards Australia to strengthen the batting whereas hoping the constant bounce on Australian surfaces would not problem Pant’s wicketkeeping abilities.
However, India might now be ruing selecting him after the dashing batsman-keeper dropped debutant Will Pucovski twice on Thursday, permitting the batsman to sew a century partnership with Marnus Labuschagne and provides Australia a robust begin on the primary day of the third Test.
Pant first dropped Pucovski off the bowling of R Ashwin when the batsman was on 26 and Australia on 49/1. It was a simple catch behind the stumps however the wicketkeeper could not maintain on to the ball.
Then, he dropped the 22-year-old Aussie once more a number of overs later when the batsman was on 32 and the group at 55/1. Pucovski top-edged a brief ball from Mohammed Siraj which ballooned within the air. Pant circled to run however then jumped to latch on to the ball. Even although he thought he had taken it, replays confirmed that the ball had hit the bottom earlier than he may cleanly collect it.
Pucovski went on to make 62, and when he ultimately fell because the second wicket after including 100 with Marnus Labuschagne, Australia’s rating learn 106.
The two dismissals (as additionally some latest examples) expose fundamental issues with Pant’s wicketkeeping. One is that he’s not protecting his eyes on the ball until the final second and the opposite is that he’s not match sufficient for sideways motion however as an alternative jumps to take catches.
Former India stumper and chief selector MSK Prasad says that Pant must work on his health in addition to wicketkeeping abilities.
“Firstly, he has to work on his fitness, not just his general fitness but wicketkeeping-specific fitness. A wicketkeeper needs to have that sideways movement to receive balls,” Prasad advised IANS.
“He is just jumping. If you are fit, you will move sideways. If you are not fit, you will take just one step and keep jumping from there. He did well on the last Australia tour. Of late though he is jumping,” Prasad added.
Prasad, whose tenure as India’s chief selector ended final 12 months, stated that Pant must apply lots and return and brush up the fundamentals.
“He has to go back and brush up his basics. He has to improve his skill-sets in wicketkeeping, the reaction time, anticipation and watching the ball till the end,” stated Prasad.
“The way he kept in the IPL also, he was missing quite a few balls. He is not watching the ball till the end.”
On Thursday, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting who’s the coach of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals for which Pant performs, too criticised his wicketkeeping.
“I’ve said it all along, the knock on Rishabh is always going to be on his keeping. Since his debut in Test cricket, he has dropped more catches than any other wicketkeeper in the world. That highlights he has got some work to do with his keeping,” Ponting advised Cricket Australia.
India had performed Wriddhiman Saha within the opening Test in Adelaide, the place they had been dismissed for 36 within the second innings. A must strengthen the batting pressured India to convey Pant in for Saha within the second Test at Melbourne.
Pant made 29 at Melbourne and added 59 vital runs with skipper Ajinkya Rahane for the fifth wicket, rescuing India from a precarious 116/4.
On the final tour of Australia in 2018-19, Pant had impressed with the bat, scoring 159 not out off 189 deliveries on the Sydney Cricket Ground, venue of the continued Test.
