SA vs IND 2022: This is how Rishabh Pant plays – Sanjay Manjrekar defends wicket-keeper’s shot selection

India’s wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant had put himself under the scanner after he played a rash shot against Kagiso Rabada in the second innings of the second Test match at the Wanderers, Johannesburg on Wednesday. Pant decided to prance down the wicket against the fast bowler but got an outside edge and was dismissed without troubling the scorers.

India had put themselves in a good position after Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara added 111 runs for the third wicket alliance. Thus, Pant had a good opportunity to help India put their noses ahead.

But, Rassie van der Dussen got under the skin of Rishabh Pant and the youngster decided to take the attack against Kagiso Rabada, who was bowling a superb spell. However, it should be noted that this is the way Pant plays but he should have shown more maturity in his shot selection.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar asserted: “This is a guy who, in a short career, has played two great Test innings – one against England, one against Australia. During the start of those innings, we have seen these kinds of shots being played by Rishabh Pant. This is how Rishabh Pant plays. This is not him being rash or carefree.”

Manjrekar added that Pant doesn’t have any problems with a short-pitched delivery and it could have been a different story had he connected on the ball he was dismissed.

“I am starting to understand that this guy is pretty sharp here (pointing to brain). People thought the short ball rattled him. He was thinking the next ball is going to be right up. That’s the one that he wanted to take on and I have seen him do that in the past. If he connects that ball and if it goes for a four or a six, then he sort of settles down for the next 30-40 minutes. This is a guy who can also defend well. He doesn’t have a problem with the short ball.”

Pant has impressed with his pyrotechnics and he has the skills to turn the match on its head. However, the southpaw hasn’t been in the best of forms as he has scored 250 runs in his last 13 Test innings at a paltry average of 19.23.

Meanwhile, South Africa is in a dominating position as they need another 122 runs to win the second Test match and they have eight wickets in hand.