Rishabh Pant Asked To Prioritize Discipline Ahead Of England Test

Rishabh Pant has always been among the most lively players of Indian cricket with his aggressive style and unorthodox batting technique. He injects passion and self-belief to the game and possesses the unique quality to reverse the fortunes of a match within a session. But before the fourth Test match against England at Old Trafford, former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has sent a tough message to Pant. Engineer feels that Pant must desist from taking unnecessary risks during Test cricket and reserve those flashy shots for the Indian Premier League. He emphasized that Test cricket is a game where there is a need for a different kind of mindset where discipline and patience play a much greater role than flair and aggression.

Pant has some aggressive and some rash shots in the initial three Test matches of the current series. Although some of those shots earned him some good runs some of them raised some eyebrows regarding his shot choice particularly at critical moments of the game. Engineer explained that as a top-four bat in India, Pant has an important role to play in constructing the innings and remaining at the crease for longer. Test cricket is a game in which each run must be won with concentration and resolve and one wrong shot can swing the situation in the favor of the other team. Pant has frequently taken impulsive shots near the close of a practice or in critical phases of the game which has led to loss for the team more than once.

Farokh Engineer who has witnessed generations of Indian cricketers grow and thrive opined that it is not about eliminating Pant's instinctive game but more about knowing when to play what. He appreciated Pant's huge talent and self-assurance but also told him that Test cricket is not the platform to try to innovate always. Engineer even jokingly said that in his day without the modern safety equipment like helmets such perilous shots might have landed one in the hospital with severe injuries. Today players have the benefit of protective gear but that does not imply that they can go easy on the game particularly against world-class bowling attacks.

Pant had hurt his finger in the third Test match which restricted his time behind the stumps. This saw people discuss whether he could still be included in the team or not as a wicketkeeper. On this issue Engineer categorically stated that Pant surely possesses the talent to play as a specialist batter. His record is self-explanatory with Test centuries in both innings of a match demonstrating that he has it in him to dominate even in the longer version without any wicket-keeping responsibilities. But the issue persists of his inconsistency. Engineer spoke about how Pant has a tendency to trust his instincts which works wonderfully at times but other times ends up pressuring the team.

Engineer related a personal anecdote with Pant in which he had cracked a joke about his shot choice. Pant just smiled and told him that he does what he feels he should be doing then. This small exchange might appear innocuous but at the same time points towards a deeper problem regarding decision-making under stress. When up against a robust bowling attack such as England's particularly now with the addition of pace threats in the form of Jofra Archer and Atkinson it is all the more necessary for batsmen to exercise restraint and tactical sense. Pant's natural exuberance can be employed but it must come at the opportune time after having settled at the crease and absorbed the knowledge of the pitch as well as the bowling.

With the Indian team preparing for the all-important fourth Test in Manchester attention again turns to how Pant will go about his innings. Will he demonstrate the maturity now called for from a top order bat or will he stick to his normal aggressive ways and throw away his wicket at a time when it is most important. With the series closely poised each run will count and each choice taken by batsmen such as Pant has the potential to significantly influence the end result. The team is already in Manchester and has even had some pleasant moments with Manchester United players sharing jerseys and playing cricket and football together. But the actual war starts at Old Trafford and that is where Pant will have to prove his mettle.

Comments from Engineer might be bitter to some but they are based on experience and care for Indian cricket. He realizes that Pant can become a great Test cricketer but for that he will have to inject more responsibility into his game. Discipline does not necessarily involve being defensive at all times but it does involve finding the right time to attack and identifying when to defend. Test cricket is a game that pays dividends to those who understand the niceties of the game and approach every innings as a challenge to be meticulously planned and slowly implemented.

Rishabh Pant has already shown that he possesses the talent to play match-winning innings in adverse conditions. His classic Australian innings and other Test-defining moments have demonstrated what he can do. But as the English series intensifies the significance of which will be to see him merge his inherent aggression with the restraint needed in red ball cricket. That equilibrium is what will make him stand out and ensure that he does not only score runs quickly but scores useful innings that ensure the team wins games. Whether he is behind the wickets or simply concentrating on his batting his job is still important and the eyes of the critics and fans will be on him when he takes to the crease in the fourth Test.