We were hard on Rishabh Pant, he was told to lose weight – Ravi Shastri

India’s head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that the team management was hard on Rishabh Pant and the wicket-keeper batsman was told to lose weight to meet the fitness standards.

Pant’s performances were under scrutiny and he was also left out of India’s limited-overs team after consistent performances from KL Rahul.

However, Pant has been able to make a roaring comeback in the Test format. WriddhimanSaha was not able to grab his chance in the first Test match against Australia and thus Pant was added to the playing XI in the second game at the MCG. Pant scored an attacking knock of 97 runs in the Sydney Test and thus played a key role for the team in saving that game.

Subsequently, the left-hander scored a match-winning unbeaten knock of 89 runs in the historic Brisbane Test to take India to a memorable win. Pant top-scored for the visitors in the Test series against Australia as he amassed 274 runs in three Test matches.

Pant was also able to carry the good form against England. The southpaw scored 270 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 54 against the English team.

“Rishabh Pant has been simply magnificent. We were hard on him. Nothing comes easy. He was told in no uncertain terms that he has got to respect the game a little more. He’s got to lose a bit of weight and work hard on his keeping,” said Ravi Shastri after the fourth Test.

“We know the talent he has and he has responded. He has worked like hell for the last few months and the results are here to see.”

The left-hander scored a fine counter-attacking knock of 101 runs from 118 balls in the fourth Test match after India was tottering at 146-6. Shastri admitted that it was the best counter-attacking knock he has ever seen in the Indian conditions, especially when the batsman has batted at number six.

“Yesterday’s innings were the best counterattacking innings I have seen in India. It was a two-phase inning. He built a partnership with Rohit playing against his nature – to do that is not easy – and to turn it on after 50. Keeping has been magnificent and Washi was outstanding too,” he added.

India has secured its place in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand. The five-match T20I series will begin on March 12 at Ahmedabad.