Former Indian keeper-batter and commentator Deep Dasgupta has come out in strong support of the Indian keeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who is known for his attacking brand of cricket in the longest format of the game.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former keeper has asserted that Pant should bat exactly the way he usually does, adding that he should rather get out going for a six than getting out playing a forceful defence.
“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 defence. 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,” Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.
In the just-concluded three-day warm-up fixture against SLC XI, Pant managed to score two runs in the first innings and 28 in the second. Moreover, Deep Dasgupta also slammed Pant’s critics for terming him irresponsible due to his explosive brand of cricket.
“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 defence 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,” he added.
“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 whether 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,” he concluded.
India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series from Saturday, August 15, in Galle.
