NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s batting approach in Test cricket has been one of the key factors in his rise as a match-winner for India. His counter-attacking style has brought some historic victories, such as the Gabba chase in 2021 and his century at Edgbaston in 2022.
While Pant’s aggressive style has yielded remarkable results, it can lead to inconsistency, particularly when the team needs him to stabilize an innings and a slightly more calculated approach could help him convert his starts into big scores more consistently.
Pant’s dismissal in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG drew a lot of flak specially from former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar who termed the shot ‘stupid’ live on air.
India were 187/5 when Pant took two runs off Scot Boland to start the 56th over. The follow-on threat still loomed large for India, but two balls later, Pant attempted the pickup lap over fine leg, but missed the ball and went down on the ground as the ball struck him on the stomach.
Even though the need of the hour was to stay at the wicket playing conventional cricket, Pant crouched low and attempted the scoop shot again, got a top-edge and it flew down to third man, where Nathan Lyon barely had to move to take the catch.
Pant (28) had done all the hard work of surviving the first 45-50 minutes but threw it away to put India in even more trouble.
Gavaskar’s anger on air was quite understandable.
Pant’s tendency to take risks, even in situations where the team might need him to play cautiously, has occasionally resulted in avoidable dismissals and developing better situational awareness would allow him to shift gears when necessary.
Bowlers and teams have started devising specific strategies to counter his attacking play, such as targeting his off-side weakness early or setting deep fields for his aerial shots.
As a potential future leader of the Test side, Pant might need to balance his natural flair with the responsibility of playing according to the team’s needs.
There is no doubt that Pant’s aggressive style is a game-changer, especially against high-quality bowling attacks in tough conditions. His ability to take the attack to bowlers often shifts momentum in India’s favor, as seen in Sydney, Gabba, and Edgbaston.
His record as a Test batsman, particularly overseas, is exceptional. He averages over 43 in Tests with centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa, demonstrating the effectiveness of his approach.
Pant’s aggression provides balance and ensures that the scoreboard keeps ticking but he has not been in fine form in this edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with scores of 37, 1, 21, 28, 9 and now 28 so far.
The Indian team management has encouraged Pant to play his natural game, understanding that his risk-taking comes with potential rewards.
Instead of overhauling his batting approach, Pant could consider refining it by picking the right bowlers and moments to attack, especially early in his innings.
Pant should look to avoid risky shots early in challenging conditions, such as the off-side wafts that have led to his dismissals and should focus on singles and doubles to build his innings and ease pressure on himself and the team.
As a senior player, Pant should be reading match situations and then decide what’s better – attacking when the team is ahead or anchoring when the team is in trouble.
It’s not about changing Pant’s batting approach but about evolving it. His current style has made him a Test match-winner, but slight adjustments in shot selection and situational awareness could elevate his game to an even higher level.
Pant should focus on enhancing his strengths while mitigating risks, ensuring he remains India’s go-to player in red-ball cricket for years to come.
