ENG vs IND 2021: Rishabh Pant should look to spend more time at the crease – MSK Prasad

Former Indian chief selector believes Rishabh Pant should look to spend more time at the crease and the runs will automatically come if the wicket-keeper batsman is there in the middle.

Pant has been struggling to get going in the tough English conditions in the ongoing Test series against England.

The level of expectations is huge from Rishabh Pant after he had a successful Test series against Australia and then also delivered against England in the home series.

Pant had scored 274 runs in three Test matches he played against Australia and then scored 270 runs in four Test matches against England.

But he hasn’t been able to deliver the goods in the ongoing series as he has managed scores of 25, 37, 22, 2, and 1 in the series.

However, Prasad revealed that there is a lot of difference in Australia and England conditions and Pant needs to mold his game according to the situation.

The Indian middle-order hasn’t been consistent, which has put extra pressure on Rishabh Pant.

Speaking to India Today, MSK Prasad said: “There are minute adjustments that he [Rishabh Pant] needs to make. He scored plenty of runs in Australia and India.

In Australia, the wickets are hard and bouncy and in India, we got flat and turners. In England, the conditions are a little tough. He should look to spend more time in the crease. He should be thinking more about spending time on the crease rather than worrying about runs now.”

“He is trusting his defense but he is in the same flow as he was in Australia and India. Had he been playing again in Australia, the pattern of quick runs he has developed would have benefited. But this mental adjustment is what he has to make.”

Prasad added that Pant’s role is important if India are to win in England. Pant had scored a blistering hundred at the Oval in 2018 and this will give him some confidence in the fourth Test match.

“If you see the runs he got earlier in England, he spent time in the middle. So I am sure the batting coach and the team management must be talking on the same lines…He needs to make a quick adjustment. His role is very, very important in the middle-order if we are to win this series from here.”

The fourth Test match will be played at the Oval from Thursday.