Former Indian batter Manoj Tiwary questioned Rishabh Pant’s shot selection after Lucknow Super Giants suffered a 40-run loss against Rajasthan Royals at Lucknow on Wednesday. Chasing a below par target of 160 runs, LSG were bundled out for 119 in 18 overs.
After Ayush Badoni was run out for a duck following a mix-up with Mitchell Marsh, Pant walked out to bat at one drop. However, Pant’s stay at the crease only lasted three balls as he was also dismissed without troubling the scorers. The LSG skipper tried to play a slog sweep on one knee against Nandre Burger but could only manage an outside edge to the keeper.
Tiwary said there should be better communication between LSG’s think tank and Rishabh Pant. The former Bengal cricketer urged the franchise’s management to back Pant in playing orthodox shots.
“The kind of players they have in this team, they can chase this total any day. Win and loss is part of the game, but the kind of playing was quite disappointing from there. Take Rishabh Pant’s shot selection today for example. I have said this before as well, if Rishabh Pant is batting in the top order, then a coach has to explain to him to play only orthodox shots, because he has that ability,” Manoj Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.
“Even before today, he had started playing the lap shot at the start. So, how will he get back into form? Who is encouraging this kind of play? No one is even willing to rectify this. So, from this, I am getting to know, watching from outside, that Justin Langer, Tom Moody, Kane Williamson, Lance Klusener, all of them have no control over the captain. So, whatever he wants to go out and do, he is doing,” he added.
Tiwary said head coach Justin Langer will need to have some tough conversations with Rishabh Pant amid the ongoing IPL season.
“What is the coach’s job? To give the right guidance. So, if the batter is hitting here and there, then the coach should explain what shots to go for that will get the team runs. Even after all this, Pant is getting out like this, then some tough conversations will have to take place. Otherwise, they will keep losing matches day and night,” Tiwary added.
LSG will next take on KKR at Lucknow on Sunday.
