Top News

Rishabh Pant’s tendency to play behind the stumps over his strong zone, which is down the pitch, has contributed to his downturn in the white-ball game, according to former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar.

With only 128 runs in 11 games, including a half-century, Pant has had a terrible IPL 2025 season. Throughout the season, the wicketkeeper-batter’s poor performance with the bat for the Lucknow Super Giants often caused his teammates to get frustrated on the pitch.

Pant’s shot selection, which was meant to play unconventionally behind the wickets and resulted in his early dismissals in the IPL 2025, is what Bangar saw to be the cause of his decline in form.

“We must acknowledge that he still doesn’t fully comprehend the white-ball game in both 50-over and T20 cricket forms. Without a doubt, Bangar is a terrific hitter in Test matches, but this season, he went out many times while attempting to play shots behind the wicket, Bangar said on Star Sports.

“Now that you have Rishabh’s finest innings, where has he sought to get runs? goes over midwicket, square, drives past covers, and steps down the track in an attempt to hit the sightscreen. Here, however, he was attempting to play those really delicate reverse sweeps or strokes. Bangar said, “As a batter, I believe he simply got caught up in that confusion and forgot that he plays at his best when he’s trying to score down the ground.”

After two early dismissals, Pant entered the game at No. 4 for LSG against the Punjab Kings, however he only scored 18 runs off 17 balls while chasing a 237 target. With 10 points from 11 games, LSG is ranked seventh in the standings after losing the match by 37 runs.

“All those other locations become available if you do try to score down the ground often. However, the former India batter came to the conclusion that if your main goal is to fall behind, you’re kind of late and not in a fantastic position to play whatever is in front of you.

Pant has to improve his shot selection and return to the fundamentals, according to former India batter Navjot Singh Sidhu.

“Rishabh Pant’s shot selection is the issue. It’s not always possible to strike your way out of difficulty. Perhaps his own fame is dragging him down and preventing him from unwinding. It is evident that he is frustrated. He often loses his temper in his role as captain, which provides the opponent an advantage. Take a look at Dhoni; he is controlled, serene, and unrevealing. Pant’s thinking has to be adjusted, particularly with regard to shot selection. Sidhu had said on JioHotstar, “He needs to get back to the basics.”