Rishabh Pant has been summoned to report to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru by the BCCI. ‘Either shape up or ship out’ is the message being sent to the Indian wicket-keeper batsman. This year in white-ball cricket, Pant has been unable to show any consistency. Due to questionable knee and back injuries, he is now also having trouble staying fit. His inclusion in the India vs. Sri Lanka Series has been cancelled, and the selectors have instead instructed him to work hard at NCA.
Pant to stay in NCA for two weeks
A BCCI official said, “Without any doubt he is one in generation kind of player. But unfortunately his form this year has been disappointing in both ODI’s and T20’s. The coaching staff wants him to be more fitter and agile. He has been asked to train at NCA.”
Pant has received a clear message from the selectors and BCCI: Until or unless his form and fitness improve, he will not be selected for the White-Ball team. He has already been replaced in T20s by the current top choices, Ishan Kishan & Sanju Samson.
Ishan Kishan, who recently smashed a double hundred in ODI cricket, will be selected ahead of him. KL Rahul, who has recently been keeping ODI wickets, would be another obstacle for Pant right now. His figures for 2022 give a clear indication of why Pant has lost his place in whiteball cricket.
Rishabh Pant ‘s recent dip in form
He had a good run at test cricket. However, in both ODI and T20, his form drastically declined. Aside from his 125 run knock against England in ODI cricket, the previous 12 months saw him struggle with consistency. His performance in T20s was less reliable. In 2022, his average and strike rate both declined. Pant’s poor average of 21.41 allowed him to score just 364 runs in 25 games.
Despite not having a significant injury, he has still not been selected for the Sri Lanka series. That demonstrates unequivocally that he is not rested but actually excluded from the team. An ODI comeback for Pant is still conceivable with around 10 months until the World Cup.
For the time being, Pant has a two-week NCA call-up. He’ll work on getting fit and take a two-week rehab programme for strengthening his knees. The BCCI medical staff has advised that Pant participate in a strengthening and conditioning exercise because of the constant crouching required of wicketkeepers and the significant role he will play in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
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