Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has issued a warning to wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant about his batting approach ahead of the five-match Test series against England in June-July. Sourav Ganguly stated that Rishabh Pant cannot rely solely on aggressive stroke play in swing-friendly conditions in England.
The wicketkeeper made his Test debut in England seven years ago. After recovering from injuries sustained in a 2022 car accident, he has regained his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper. India are set to play a Test series in England as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
Rishabh Pant Has Got to Bite the Bullet – Sourav Ganguly
Rishabh Pant has faced criticism for his risky shot selection on multiple occasions. Speaking during Trailblazers 3.0 by RevSportz, Sourav Ganguly advised Pant to develop the mindset to stay at the crease rather than always looking for attacking options.
“[Rishabh] Pant has got to bite the bullet and play the swinging ball. You can not keep swinging all the time and expect to score runs in Test cricket. It is a mentality, determination, and grit,” Ganguly said during Trailblazers 3.0 by RevSportz (via Hindustan Times).
Rishabh Pant’s Decent Record in Tests on English Soil
Pant made a strong comeback by scoring a century in his return match. He also scored runs during the whitewash series loss to New Zealand. However, his form dipped in the BGT, where he struggled in Australian conditions. Pant managed only 255 runs across nine innings at an average of 28.33.
The 27-year-old has played two Test series in England, in 2018 and 2021. He has scored 556 runs across 17 innings at an average of 32.71. He has hit two centuries in the country, including a remarkable knock in the final Test of the 2018 series and another dominant innings in the rescheduled Test in 2022.
I Do Not See Virat Kohli Failing in England – Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly said that Virat Kohli will play a key role in the Test series against England. He stated that the rest of the batting lineup, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill, must also step up.
“They have the talent—Virat Kohli, the best in the business. I do not see him failing in five Test matches in England. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill—they need to step up,” Ganguly said in the same interview.
“My only worry is that, other than Virat and Yashasvi, not many average more than 40 away from home. If you want to be a good Test team, three or four of your top six batters must be averaging close to 50 in Test matches,” he added.
India will be aiming for a comeback in Test cricket after failing to qualify for the last WTC cycle. One of the major concerns has been Virat Kohli’s inconsistency with the bat. He managed a century in Perth during the BGT series, but he has not been at his best since the start of the home season in September 2024.
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