“Save for IPL…”: Rishabh Pant gets warning to curb audacious strokes by former India keeper

India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has lit up the ongoing Test series against England with his fearless strokeplay, but not everyone is impressed. Well, it does race your heart but that’s how Pant operates. There’s a method to his madness. However, a former Indian keeper has offered caution.

With the must-win fourth Test in Manchester around the corner, former India gloveman Farokh Engineer has issued a sharp piece of advice: “Save those for IPL.”

Pant’s freak nature in Tests

Engineer’s comment comes on the back of Pant’s recurring habit of taking undue risks at critical moments. Despite being India’s second-highest run-getter in the series with 425 runs at an average of over 70 including two centuries, Pant’s dismissals to England’s Shoaib Bashir while attempting audacious shots have called him out.

Not long ago, Pant was called, “stupid” by Sunil Gavaskar when the southpaw gifted his wicket in a crucial juncture during the Australia series. However, Pant’s tons in Leeds quickly made amends as those stupid chants converted into “superb”.

In a conversation with RevSportz, Engineer said: “Absolutely. Save those 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.”

Pant remains the only player who can reverse scoop a James Anderson and can also hit one-handed sixes that sail over 100 metres. He’s a freakish cricketer. But the beauty is, despite his risky methods, he is perhaps India’s best Test batter since his debut. With sublime centuries, Pant is certainly the best keeper India has ever had in the format.

“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.”

Pant’s injury not to affect his slot?

The 27-year-old Pant, who has also been managing a finger injury during the series, ceded wicketkeeping duties to Dhruv Jurel during the Lord’s Test. Still, his gritty 74 in the first innings was vital for India. When asked whether Pant should retain his place purely as a batter, Engineer was unequivocal.

“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,” Engineer said. “I joked with him about his shot selection, and he just laughed—said he does what feels right in the moment.”