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Team India lost two back-to-back ODIs against South Africa under the leadership of KL Rahul.
In the second ODI, batting first, the visitors registered a total of 287 runs losing 6 wickets in 50 overs. India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was the highest-scorer for his side after he scored 85 runs off 71 balls.
In recent times plenty of discussions have taken place regarding the southpaw’s batting style and his poor shot selection in the second Test match against South Africa in Wanderers made matters worse.
Talking about discussions
While talking about this matter, Pant said that “a lot of discussions happen” on shot selection and playing style.
“There are always positive talks that as an individual what I can do. All the strokes are there but how can I play with patience and according to the situation. So a lot of discussions happen," Pant told the reporters during a virtual interaction after the second ODI.
“And whatever we discuss, we practise and after that try to implement in the match," the Uttarakhand-born cricketer added.
A lot of discussions have also taken place regarding Pant’s batting position and whether he should have a promotion in the batting order or not. The left-handed batsman explained why he bats at number four.
“The reason to bat at number four was if a left-hander gets a chance to bat in the middle, then it becomes easy to rotate strike, with the left-right combination, especially in the middle overs when leg-spinners or left-arm spinners bowl, so that is why the team management felt that a left-handed batter should bat and that is why that role was given to me," Pant explained.
Batsmen doing fine
The wicketkeeper-batsman believes that from a batting point of view Indian team have been “going fine” but he did admit that there were mistakes and the players are “learning from the mistakes.”
“I think as (from) a batting point of view, we are fine, we are going fine. We are learning from our mistakes and every day as the Indian cricket team we strive to improve our cricket and that is the only thing we are looking forward (to)."
“One more positive was the way Shardul (Thakur) batted down the order, in both the matches, that was also a positive. The way Venky (Venkatesh Iyer) bowled, he conceded more runs in one or two overs, but still it felt that he could bowl (at this level). So, there are a lot of positives, which we can take as a team," the 24-year-old wicketkeeper said.
