Rishabh Pant's poor form in the tournament has led to some backlash, as the most expensive player in its history is having a tough outing for LSG.
Former batting coach Sanjay Bangar has analyzed Rishabh Pant's struggles this season, suggesting that he focus on scoring shots down the ground rather than attempting expansive shots.
"If you look to score down the ground a lot of times, then all those other areas open up. But if you’re only looking to score behind, then whatever is in front of you becomes harder to access, and you're often late and not in a great position to play," the former Indian batter concluded.
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Sanjay Bangar Decodes
Furthermore, Bangar added that Pant's shot selection and commitment to those shots have been inconsistent, which has held him back. Even his strong shots often find the fielder.
"If you think back to Rishabh’s best innings, where was he looking to score runs? It was drives through cover, stepping down the track to hit the sightscreen, or going over midwicket and square. But here, he was trying to play reverse sweeps or very fine shots. As a batter, I think he got caught in confusion, forgetting that his best game is when he looks to score down the ground," Bangar said.
Navjot Singh Sidhu also commented on Rishabh Pant's shot selection a few weeks ago, right after his innings against PBKS where he scored 18 runs off 17 balls. His poor shot selection in that match ultimately led to his dismissal.
Rishabh Pant's ordinary IPL 2025
So far this season, Pant has scored only 128 runs in 11 matches, averaging just 11.5. This disappointing performance has significantly impacted LSG, which currently stands in 7th position on the points table with 10 points. They still have a chance for the playoffs if they manage to win all their remaining matches.
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Despite these low points, a bright spot for Rishabh Pant could be his possible appointment as India's vice-captain for the upcoming tour of England, where he is expected to be announced alongside Shubman Gill, who will be appointed as the full-time captain.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Retires from Tests: What’s Next for Team India?
