'If I'm the captain, I would tell Rishabh Pant...': Sachin Tendulkar sounds alarm over India star's 'risky' batting
Team India will kick off its new World Test Championship cycle on Friday as it takes on Ben Stokes' England in the first Test of the five-match series in England. The series is significant not just in terms of the WTC cycle, but also because it begins India's transitional era in the longest format. With two stalwarts of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, retiring from the format, the series will see a relatively younger Indian team aiming to make its mark in Test cricket. While Shubman Gill leads the side for the first time, Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper-batter, will be his deputy.
Pant will continue to bat at No. 5 in the Test side, but with added leadership duties, the spotlight on his temperament and approach has only intensified. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, long known for his fearless strokeplay, now faces growing calls for maturity, especially in light of the criticism he copped during India's 2024/25 tour of Australia.
Pant's tendency to throw his wicket away drew sharp reactions from both fans and former cricketers, with many questioning his decision-making under pressure. Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar has now stressed the need for Pant to evolve; while Tendulkar did encourage Pant to back his instincts, he stressed the southpaw must bat with greater responsibility if he is to fulfil his potential in the longest format.
"He [Pant] should back his instincts most of the time," Tendulkar said. 'But there'll be situations where he'll have to curb his game in the interests of the team,' he added, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
'I know that whatever he does the rest of the time will also be in the interest of the team, but the approach might have to be different. He has to have that flexibility in his mind. If there are times when you're looking to save the game, then he may have to adapt that defensive approach, for let's say an hour or 45 minutes or sometimes two hours, where he'll have to just take those risky shots out of the game and not be as aggressive. He could be positive, but the shot selection will come into play.'
Tendulkar also explained how he would handle Rishabh Pant if he were the Indian captain. He stated that he would allow the wicketkeeper-batter a free hand in his aggressive approach, but if India needed to save the match, he would want Pant to play responsibly.
"Nine out of ten times, if I'm the captain, I'll say, 'Just go out and play your game, why worry about anything.' If you're looking to save the game, that is when the approach changes a bit, but otherwise I would tell him that you go out and be yourself and do what you feel is in the best interest of the team," said Tendulkar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
31 minutes ago
- Hans India
Australia Opt for Fresh Faces as Smith Suffers Injury, Labuschagne Misses Out
Australia cricket squad changes News: Australia is set to announce an overhauled batting lineup for the forthcoming first Test with the West Indies in Barbados next week after Australia exempted Steve Smith due to injury concerns. Labuschagne dropped Australia was omitted due to his lackluster performances of late. Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas will be part of the Test that begins on June 25, the beginning of the 2027 World Test Championship journey for both teams. The full Australian team and the order of batting will be announced prior to the first delivery. Steve Smith has been ruled out of Steve Smith's participation in the World Test Championship Final due to Steve Smith injury update to his finger. However, recent reports suggest Smith could be able to play enough to play his second test in Grenada which is scheduled to start on July 3rd. After two years of struggle to find the best form in Test cricket Labuschagne was appointed to start the innings during the Lord's Final, but managed just 17 and 22 runs during Australia's loss in the final to South Africa. On Friday morning the Selectors Chair George Bailey confirmed the squad changes. 'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and see how he is then,' Bailey said. "Josh and Sam have been selected in the team to replace Steve and Marnus," McGrath said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for them to take the next step in their Test careers and we're looking forward to seeing them rise to the challenge." Konstas has impressed in his first couple of Tests, earning plaudits for matching up with world No.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah and also scoring a half-century on Boxing Day in Melbourne, while Inglis scored a Test hundred on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. As the pair is in the mix in the Australia team selection 2025, Bailey threw his support for Labuschagne who remains in the team even though he was unable to make the team 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He knows his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, wants.
Hans India
32 minutes ago
- Hans India
Fantastic to see two legends honoured with Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy: Jay Shah on England-India Test series
ICC Chair Jay Shah expressed his joy on India and England greats Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson have been honoured with a newly named trophy – the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy – which will be up for grabs in the five-Test series between the two nations. The five-Test series between the two sides, starting Friday, will also mark the beginning of the next ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle for both teams. "With the new WTC cycle under way it's fantastic to see two legends honoured with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for men's Test series between England and India. Equally special is the continued acknowledgement of the Pataudi family, with the introduction of the Pataudi Medal to be awarded to the winning captain of each England–India Test series," Shah posted on X. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) unveiled the new trophy, which features the imagery of both Tendulkar and Anderson and also has their signatures engraved on it as a tribute to the two stalwarts. The Pataudi family, after whom the previous Pataudi Trophy was named, will continue to be honoured through the introduction of the Pataudi Medal, a new accolade that will be awarded to the winning captain of the series. India's legendary batter Tendulkar, the first player with 200 Test caps, closed his red-ball career in 2013 with the most runs in the format, a record he still holds with a mammoth 15,921 runs, which include 51 centuries. He has delivered some memorable displays against England, scoring 2,535 runs at an average of 51.73, with a highest score of 193 at Headingley, the venue for the first Test between the two sides starting on Friday. Anderson, who represented England in 188 Test matches, claimed a whooping 704 wickets in the longest format – the third-highest in the format – before bringing the curtains down on his career last year. The seamer brought his best against India, amassing an incredible 149 wickets from 39 Tests, at an average of 25.47, including six five-wicket hauls.
News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
IND vs ENG, Leeds Weather Live Updates: Will Rain Hinder Shubman Gill's Captaincy Debut?
India vs England, Leeds Weather Today Live Updates: Hello and a very warm welcome to News18 CricketNext's weather coverage of the first Test between India and England at Headingley. First days are always crucial in England, and this one is particularly important. It's not just the inauguration of the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy but also the start of a new era of Indian cricket, under the 25-year-old Shubman Gill. For England, too, it's a high-stakes moment with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum hoping to kick off the third World Test Championship cycle on a winning note to build towards a first final. But England has seen several such moments get washed out by rain. What about today? According to the chances of rain for the three sessions are quite low, almost negligible. However, the fun of playing cricket in England is that the weather here is quite fragile — it's randomly sunny and suddenly overcast, which tends to affect how the ball behaves. We'll keep you updated about all the happenings here!
