Sachin Tendulkar, an Indian batting icon, has urged Rishabh Pant to adjust his natural style of play if necessary for the team’s sake during the next Test series against England. After making his debut at Trent Bridge in 2018, Pant will be returning to England for the third time with the 2025 tour.
The 52-year-old gave the southpaw advice on how to adjust his style to the needs of the team and make smart shot selections depending on the circumstances of the game. To ESPN Cricinfo, he said:
“He (Pant) should back his instincts most of the time. But there’ll be situations where he’ll have to curb his game in the interests of the team. I know that whatever he does the rest of the time will also be in the interest of the team, but the approach might have to be different. He has to have that flexibility in his mind.”
Sachin Tendulkar
“If there are times when you’re looking to save the game, then he may have to adapt that defensive approach, for let’s say an hour or 45 minutes or sometimes two hours, where he’ll have to just take those risky shots out of the game and not be as aggressive. He could be positive, but the shot selection will come into play”.
Sachin Tendulkar
On May 24, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar confirmed the lineup for the England tour, and Rishabh Pant was named India’s new vice-captain. In the series against England, the 27-year-old stated on Wednesday that he would bat at number five for India.
Sachin Tendulkar backs Rishabh Pant to play natural game but urges him to prioritise team interest
In the 2024-25 Australia series, Rishabh Pant came under fire with regards to his shot selection, in Melbourne, by former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. According to Sachin Tendulkar, he was okay with him playing the way he is comfortable with but he added that he should be able to open his defensive game in case it was needed.
“Nine out of ten times, if I’m the captain, I’ll say, ‘Just go out and play your game, why worry about anything.’ If you’re looking to save the game, that is when the approach changes a bit, but otherwise I would tell him that you go out and be yourself and do what you feel is in the best interest of the team.”
Sachin Tendulkar
Rishabh Pant made an incredible, attacking 146 against England in a series at Edgbaston in 2022. He was however not successful to lead his side to win the game as seven wickets fell and England easily reached the target of 378 runs made in the fourth innings.
