Rishabh Pant must save risky shots for IPL, Test cricket needs discipline, says Farokh Engineer

Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Farokh Engineer said Rishabh Pant must save risky shots for the Indian Premier League and urged the left-hander to show more discipline in his batting. Pant is known to take his risks and that is his natural style of batting.

Pant has scored 425 runs in three Test matches against England at an impressive average of 70.83 in the ongoing series and he has been doing a fine job for the team in the red-ball format. 

Pant had returned with scores of 134 and 118 in the opening Test match at Leeds, Headingley. 

“Absolutely. Save those (risky shots) for IPL. Test cricket demands discipline. From a number three or four, you expect them to play proper cricket, get big scores, and build innings. Rishabh has scored centuries in both innings of a Test, which is remarkable. So yes, he could play purely as a batsman, especially with England’s strong bowling lineup, now including Jofra Archer and Atkinson,” Engineer told RevSportz.

The former Indian gloveman said Pant should be cautious in the crucial stages of a Test match.

“For the runs he’s scored, yes, he can play as a pure batter. But Rishabh is unpredictable. Whatever comes to his mind, he does it. I joked with him about his shot selection, and he just laughed—said he does what feels right in the moment. He has the confidence and has gotten away with it often. But he needs to be more responsible in crucial moments, like right before lunch or at the end of a day’s play. Still, he’s immensely talented. He invents his own shots, and thankfully, helmets allow that now. In our time, we wouldn’t have had any teeth left,” he added.

Pant has the skills to turn the match on its head with his blistering batting, and he can tear apart any bowling attack in the world on his day. The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.