Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistan cricketer, believes Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant should take a break from international cricket due to a lack of form.
Pant, who is leading the Indian team in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, has 57 runs in four appearances at a 14.25 average.
Danish Kaneria on Rishabh Pant
In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, India’s current white-ball skipper Rishabh Pant has failed to score runs. Several former cricketers, including Wasim Jaffer and Dale Steyn, have already stated that he should be dropped from the playing XI due to his current form.
Pant’s fitness has been questioned by Danish Kaneria, who claims the left-handed batter is “slightly overweight and bulky.” Pant’s batting style needs to be improved as well, according to Kaneria, or he may lose his spot in the playing XI soon.
“I want to talk about Rishabh Pant’s keeping. I have noticed one thing that when a fast bowler is bowling, he doesn’t crouch and sit down. He keeps standing. Maybe because he is slightly overweight and bulky, he can’t come up that quickly, and he doesn’t have that much of time. He just stays bent back and low, he doesn’t sit down properly. I think that shows a little concern over his fitness. Is Rishabh Pant fully fit?” Kaneria said.
“Rishabh Pant will have to improve his batting style. There is KS Bharat available and I don’t see any wrong in bringing in Wriddhiman Saha. Just give a break to Rishabh Pant,” he added.
Pant may be under pressure to lose his wicketkeeper spot due to senior batter Dinesh Karthik’s excellent batting performance.
On June 19, Team India will face South Africa in the fifth and final T20I match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru (Sunday). Both teams will be looking to win the final game and clinch the series, which is currently tied at 2-2.
