Aakash Chopra backs Rishabh Pant to play natural game on England tour

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra said India’s wicket-keeper bat Rishabh Pant should not try to adopt a different style of batting on the England tour. Chopra wants Pant to keep backing his natural game and continue playing in an unorthodox way.

Pant has savored great success in his young Test career but he didn’t have a great tour of Australia. The left-hander scored 255 runs in five Test matches against the Aussies at an average of 28.33, including only one fifty. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar had also slammed Pant for his shot selection during the commentary stint.

“There shouldn’t be a change as well. How will you succeed if you leave the thing that got you success? His playing style has always been unorthodox. Everyone sees the game differently. When Rishabh sees the game differently, he reacts like that,” Aakash Chopa said on Star Sports.

“He doesn’t see the game like Steve Smith. He sees how he can upset the bowler, and that he can control the game very well if he hits a six. He starts like that too. Of course, if balls like these (snorters) are bowled, he will be more careful. You can respect the short balls a little,” he added.

Chopra said Pant will get out while playing shots in the five-match series against England.

“Rishabh Pant will get out while playing shots only. You will rarely see him getting out while defending. You cannot question his execution as well. Criticism should be based on whether he scores runs or not. You have the right to criticize him if he doesn’t score runs,” he said.

The renowned commentator said Pant should not change his aggressive style of play against England.

“However, he will get out like this only. So don’t get confused that he is playing wrong, and that is why he is getting out. We used to clap when he used to score runs like this. We cannot be result-oriented. His playing style is like this only, and he doesn’t like to change it, which is actually okay,” Chopra observed.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.