Youngster Rishabh Pant putting too much pressure on himself to perform for India is counterproductive

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  • Pant (R) has tried to prove too much in too little time.

    Two years ago Rishabh Pant was one of the hottest properties in Indian cricket. His heroics in the ICC U19 World Cup for the Indian colts saw IPL outfit Delhi Daredevils fork out a whopping sum of Rupees 19 million (Dh108,000) for the young wicketkeeper-batsman during 2016.

    The southpaw’s ability to clear the fence regularly with gutso and penchant is what has brought him many admirers in the Indian cricket community.

    After a terrific domestic season with the bat during 2016-17 where he scored a triple-hundred against Maharashtra in the Ranji trophy and a 48-ball ton against Jharkhand, Pant was handed his maiden India cap in a T20I against England at Bengaluru.

    He did not get much of a chance to showcase his ability in that match, getting to face only three deliveries for an unbeaten knock of five runs. He was however picked again for the T20s when India toured the West Indies in July last year and played a sole match in Kingston.

    On that day, Pant managed to score a 35-ball 38, a far cry from the explosive tag he carried with him. It was simply a case of him trying too hard to smash every ball out of the ground. That desperation perhaps, is a by-product of his reputation of being a big and clean hitter of the ball.

    Pant has literally gone hell for leather in almost every delivery he has faced.

    Pant has literally gone hell for leather in almost every delivery he has faced.

    It is almost as if Pant has to justify that tag whenever he puts on the Blues of India. Following the T20I against the West Indies, the Delhi-based youngster did not get any more games for the national side until the ongoing Nidahas T20 tri-series in Sri Lanka.

    There too, in the opening match against the hosts, Pant flattered to deceive. With Shikhar Dhawan giving India a solid platform to launch off from in the death overs, the 20-year-old struggled to find a clean connection as he looked to launch each and every ball out of the ground.

    His struggles at one end forced Dhawan to up the ante himself and the opener paid the price with his wicket. Pant on the other hand, scored a run-a-ball 23 despite collecting a six and a boundary as India lost their way a little towards the death overs.

    With MS Dhoni all but confirmed to be India’s wicket-keeping option in the 2019 ICC World Cup, there is no real rush for Pant to force himself into contention. His time will come, for he has been clearly earmarked by the board as one for the future.

    That is why he is being tried out in the odd T20 match here and there, so that come 2019, he is ready to take over the mantle from the veteran stalwart.

    The talent is clearly there, as evidenced by his 32-ball hundred against Himachal Pradesh in January, the second-fastest T20 ton in history and the fastest by an Indian.

    The question for Pant therefore is, why the hurry? Maybe it is time the youngster stopped putting so much pressure on himself to perform and let his natural talent do the talking.

    His time with the Indian senior team will come. For now, he needs to start enjoying the game and the boundaries will flow again.

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