Rishabh Pant needs to modify his game or might get dropped from the Indian Test team: Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra, former India spinner, has stated that India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant needs to modify his game or he might be dropped from the Test team. Pant made his debut for his country in 2017 and has since established himself as a mainstay in the Test team, appearing infrequently in T20Is and ODIs.

Pant ahs eight centuries to his name in his Test career, most by an Indian keeper and joint third-highest overall. Though his impressive numbers in Tests, Mishra feels Pant needs to change up his approach as opponents have analyzed his game thoroughly and plan accordingly.

“I have very high expectations from Rishabh Pant. Given the kind of player he is, he will also have to modify his game. Now, you can’t really call him a youngster anymore — he has been in the team since 2018. That’s what I’m saying: after a certain point in time, it becomes very important to modify your game,” Mishra said on the Men XP podcast.

“The opposition teams are watching you closely. They are observing you, understanding your game, and planning against you — where you hit fast bowling, which balls you don’t attack, they notice everything. So, you also need to be aware of that. You can’t keep saying, ‘I got out the same way again here.’ That’s something you must avoid,” Mishra added.

Mishra cautioned Pant against being obstinate about his batting technique since it wouldn't work everywhere, particularly on sharp turning tracks like the ones used in the most recent South Africa series.

https://twitter.com/WicketsH16743/status/2003116000871661621

“If a particular shot doesn’t work on a certain pitch, then don’t play it. You can’t insist on saying, ‘This is how I play, this is my game.’ Then go ahead and do it — you will do it for four or five matches more and eventually get dropped. You can’t expect it to work everywhere. You won’t get the same kind of wicket everywhere where you can keep hitting fours and sixes. At some places, you’ll get turning tracks; at others, there will be bounce or swing. How you handle those conditions — that’s up to you,” he said.

Pant’s recent outings against South Africa were below par, scoring 49 runs across two Tests as India lost the series 0-2. He also captained India for the first time in Tests in the second match of the series that was played in Guwahati.

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