Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly urged wicket-keeper bat Rishabh Pant to improve shot-selection on England tour after disappointing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. After two successful tours of Australia, Pant failed to deliver on the 2024-25 tour.
The left-hander scored 255 runs in five Test matches against the Aussies at an average of 28.33, including only one fifty. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar had also slammed Pant for his shot selection during the commentary stint.
Sourav Ganguly said on RevSportz, “I did not like what I saw of him in Australia. Too many shots. Just too many shots. He was just swinging at every ball, and that’s not how you bat in conditions where the ball was moving around a bit. He needs to show fight. He has a very good defence. That’s what I want to see.”
Ganguly said he wants Pant to show stomach for a fight and not throw away his wicket easily.
“I want him to fight and grind down. Be ugly. Look ugly. But don’t swing at every ball and give it away. I know he is a stroke-maker and that’s his strength, but then he will have to adapt and play accordingly.”
On the other hand, the Prince of Kolkata tipped England as a better team in their own conditions against India.
“England are a better side in these conditions. But if India bat well and bat tough, and if they use Bumrah well, they will have a chance. Look, I will come back to watch Edgbaston or Lord’s, and that’s because I believe they have a chance,” said Ganguly.
The visitors have a young team and they will have their work cut out in tough conditions. The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
