India may have one of the most explosive wicketkeeper-batters in world cricket in Rishabh Pant, but head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that talent alone is not enough at the highest level. Ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, Gambhir stressed that Pant must continue to play his natural game while also developing a sharper understanding of match situations.

Pant has long been admired for his fearless strokeplay, but his aggressive approach has also drawn criticism at times, especially when dismissals have come from high-risk shot selection. Even so, Gambhir backed the 28-year-old to remain true to his style, while also highlighting the need for better game awareness in Test cricket.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Gambhir said India would never ask Pant to abandon the instincts that make him such a special player. “As far as Rishabh is concerned, we expect him to play the way he is. It’s not as if we will tell him that he needs to curb his game. But in international cricket, it is very important to understand and play according to the situation. Reading the situation is important — understanding what a particular situation demands and what kind of shot should be played in that situation.”

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“However, it is not as though any player has been told to completely move away from his natural game and play in a totally different manner. Whether it is Test cricket, ODIs, or T20 cricket, the ultimate aim is to score runs and take wickets. You can never move away from that. How you go about achieving it is up to you, but reading the situation correctly is important.”

Gambhir was also asked whether Pant’s approach might change after losing the vice-captaincy role. The India head coach dismissed that idea, saying leadership labels matter far less than performance when it comes to playing for the country.

“Look, the responsibility is simply to play for India. Everything else is a by-product—captaincy, vice-captaincy, all of that is a by-product. When you start playing for India, you don’t think about becoming vice-captain or captain from day one. You think about performing well for India. Ultimately, everyone is judged on performance—whether it’s me, any member of the support staff, or any player.”

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For Gambhir, the message is simple: Pant does not need to become a different batter, only a more situational one. With India entering another important Test, that balance between instinct and awareness could be crucial to Pant’s value in the side.