NEWS
Follow UsCricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra feels Rishabh Pant's form is a matter of concern and adds that he is playing like a newcomer.
Pant has not been in the best of forms in the ongoing series against England having scored just 87 runs at 17.4. In his five innings so far, he has scores of 25, 37, 22, 2 and 1, which are not good returns considering Pant is in the team not just for his wicketkeeping skills, but also to score runs which his predecessor Wriddhiman Saha could not do on a consistent basis.
"I am very worried about Rishabh Pant's performance. The team is playing with five bowlers because the team knows that they have a strong player like Rishabh Pant as a batsman and that is why Wriddhiman Saha has been kept out of the team. But if Pant doesn't score for the team, then it's a matter of concern," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
"The way he is playing is certainly an issue. The team is stuck, yet Pant is playing like a newcomer, which is something to be worried about. However, Indian captain Virat Kohli said he was not worried about Rishabh Pant's form."
He said that everyone talked about Pujara when he wasn't performing well. But after the Headingley innings, everyone calmed down. We will also give Pant ample chance to play and understand the game," he added.
After an impressive win at Lord's India succumbed to a massive loss in the next Test at Trent Bridge, which included them getting bowled out for 78 in the first innings.
India and England will continue their rivalry in the next Test, which is set to be played at The Oval, starting September 2.