Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Rishabh Pant shouldn’t change his batting mindset in the upcoming Test series against England as well. He also stated that Pant sees the game differently from players like Steve Smith, who scored 66 runs in Australia’s first innings in the World Test Championship (WTC) final as well. Notably, India will take on England in a five-match Test series, starting in Leeds on June 20 under Shubman Gill’s captaincy.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Chopra said, “There shouldn’t be a change as well. How will you succeed if you leave the thing that got you success? His playing style has always been unorthodox. Everyone sees the game differently. When Rishabh sees the game differently, he reacts like that. He doesn’t see the game like Steve Smith. He sees how he can upset the bowler, and that he can control the game very well if he hits a six. He starts like that too. Of course, if balls like these (snorters) are bowled, he will be more careful. You can respect the short balls a little.”

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However, Aakash Chopra also said that Rishabh Pant should be criticized for his lack of runs but not for his mode of dismissals as well.

“Rishabh Pant will get out while playing shots only. You will rarely see him getting out while defending. You cannot question his execution as well. Criticism should be based on whether he scores runs or not. You have the right to criticize him if he doesn’t score runs,” he said.

“However, he will get out like this only. So don’t get confused that he is playing wrong, and that is why he is getting out. We used to clap when he used to score runs like this. We cannot be result-oriented. His playing style is like this only, and he doesn’t like to change it, which is actually okay,” Aakash Chopra concluded.