Rishabh Pant is now part of the leadership group of the Indian Test team, appointed as deputy to Shubman Gill for the India tour of England.
All Eyes on Vice-Captain Pant Ahead of England Tour
India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant is now in focus, as the wicket-keeper batter will carry extra responsibility behind the stumps. In the era of Kohli and Rohit, Pant has always been the aggressor, and his knocks down the order have helped India many times, especially his iconic innings at the Gabba.
The fearless version of Pant could now be under the scanner, as experts believe the added responsibility might put pressure on him during the upcoming England tour.
Delhi Capitals coach Hemang Badani has shared his thoughts, stressing that the extra responsibility could weigh on Pant and might lead him to change his natural game. In this context, Badani urged Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir to advise Pant to stop thinking about leadership and focus solely on his batting.
"It's important that someone like Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, has a chat with him and says, don't think too hard about captaincy, vice-captaincy, you're the second in command—none of that. There's a certain way that you've played over the years and that has worked well for you. I think it will work well for us if he does that again, because he is a batter who comes in to bat at times when the second new ball is due," Badani said.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Pitch Report & Weather Updates at Headingley, Leeds: India tour of England, 1st Test
Badani Hopes Pant Doesn’t Change His Batting Style
Moreover, Badani suggested that Pant should stick to his fearless brand of batting.
"I genuinely hope it doesn't change one bit. I think he is somebody who has found the right balance between attacking stroke-play and defensive technique in this format. So I don't see any reason why you should try and change that," Badani told Hindustan Times in an exclusive chat.
Rishabh Pant Stats in England
- Innings: 17
- Runs: 556
- Average: 32.7
- 50/100: 2/2
- Highest Score: 146
Meanwhile, Badani also advised Indian bowlers to stick to a stump-to-stump line and avoid allowing English batters to settle, especially considering their aggressive Bazball approach.
"You want to keep the bowling on the mat, keep them under pressure, rather than letting them leave balls and settle into a rhythm. If that happens, it becomes easier for the bowler to go after wickets," he concluded.
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025.
