Earlier this week, the Indian team management faced some heat due to their comments on young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant. Former opening batsman Gautam Gambhir criticized the administration, saying ‘this is no way to handle a young human resource‘.
During the discussion regarding Pant’s poor form, head coach Ravi Shastri commented that there would be a ‘rap on the knuckles‘. Newly appointed batting coach Vikram Rathour also made a similar comment saying that ‘there is a fine line between fearless cricket and careless cricket‘.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Shastri explained his comments. “I spoke about ‘the rap on the knuckles’. If someone goofs up, I have to pull them up. Am I there only to play tabla?” said Shastri.
“But this guy is world-class, this guy can be destructive, can be a destroyer. And we will give him all the support that he needs to prosper in international cricket,” he added.
Shastri requested fans to be patient with Pant as he is still in the learning phase.
“Pant is different; he is world-class and is a brutal match-winner. Very few around in the world game; I can’t pick five on my hands when it comes to white-ball cricket, T20 cricket. So the patience we will have with him is a lot.
“All your media reports and all the experts writing (but) Pant is in great space with this Indian team. Experts, they have a job, they can speak. Pant is a special kid, and he has already done enough. And he is only going to learn. This team management will back him to the hilt,” he concluded.
