Former Indian wicketkeeper batter Deep Dasgupta backed Rishabh Pant’s attacking batting style in Tests amid criticisms of his dismissal modes ahead of the two-match series against Sri Lanka. Pant has been throwing away his wicket through a big shot, one that came in the warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI. Yet, he has been one of India’s most valuable Test batters with 3,557 runs at an average of 43.37 in 50 matches as well.
Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel, “He should bat exactly the way he usually does. I remember a few matches back where he was overtly defensive. I would rather have him get out going for a six than getting out playing a forceful defense. Rishabh should get the freedom to attack, and that’s also his strength. Also, Sri Lanka’s spinners are predominantly left-arm spinners. So Rishabh being in form and having the right mindset is crucial for India in this series.”
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He also slammed the unfair criticisms that have come Rishabh Pant’s way because he tends to get out playing attacking shots. However, Dasgupta believes the mode of dismissal should not judge a player’s performance and instead urged fans and experts to focus on other parameters related to the dismissal as well.
“This word ‘responsibility’ is a complicated word. The viewers’ mindset is also strange in that if a batter defends and gets out, that’s not irresponsible. But if someone plays a shot and gets out, it becomes irresponsible. The truth is certain batters have defense as their strength, while it’s attack for others. But getting out while defending has become acceptable, whereas it’s deemed irresponsible or rash if it’s an attacking shot,” said Dasgupta.
“Instead, you should analyse if the timing was right or if it was the right bowler to attack. But most of us just judge a dismissal only on if it’s an attacking shot or not. We must understand that an attacking batter will get out playing a shot 8/10 times. So it’s important not to just say things for the heck of it,” Deep Dasgupta concluded.
