'It's as if he taken a vow to step out on the first ball' - Salman Butt critcises Rishabh Pant for over-aggressive approach

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has suggested that Rishabh Pant should have taken his time before trying to attack South Africa pacers as India's scoring rate was healthy in the third ODI on January 23. The wicketkeeper batter was dismissed on a golden duck by Andile Phehlukwayo as he went for a wild slog on the first ball of his innings. He came into bat when the scorecard read 116/2 with a run-rate of more than five per over and Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed in the same over by Phehlukwayo.

South Africa had posted 287 all-out in 49.5 overs. At one stage, they were looking to amass beyond 300 runs with Rassie van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock batting together. Both players stitched a partnership of 144 runs for the fourth wicket. De Kock went on score his 17th ODI hundred while van der Dussen score 52 runs. However, the team's scoring was dented as they went from 216/3 to 287 all-out. The KL Rahul-led side went on to lose the game agonisingly by four runs as Deepak Chahar's (54) spirited effort went in vain.

Analyzing the game, Butt has said that Pant could have taken his time on the crease as the scoring rate was good. He added that the left-hander is a good stroke player who is capable of achieving any target.

"Take Rishabh Pant's example; the partnership (for the last wicket) was set and he should have taken his time because the scoring rate was also healthy. Even with a run-a-ball 20 or 25, he could have taken India to a win very easily. He is s such a good stroke player who is capable of achieving any target.

It's as if he has taken a vow to step out very first ball. Not sure if someone tells him to do so before he walks out to bat or he fantasizes about doing something extraordinary on the very first ball. It is not sensible. His form is good currently and whenever he stays, he scores big. So, he should utilize it," said Butt on his YouTube channel.

The selection of the bowling line-up was great by the Indian team: Salman Butt

The Lahore-born former player added that the bowling line-up selected for the final ODI was not great as far as the cricketing reasons are concerned. He elaborated that the bowling department lacked pace.

"If we go with pure cricketing reasons, then the selection wasn't great as far as the bowling line-up is concerned. It lacked pace. In the batting department, no one was able to convert their 50s and 60s into a century. If you look at the difference between India and South Africa in these matches, you'd notice that their (SA's) batters would go on to play a big innings after getting set.