Syed Kirmani wants Rishabh Pant to work hard on his temperament, says 'No player can say I am a born hitter'

Despite ticking almost all the boxes in Tests, India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's white-ball trajectory has hit a roadblock over the last two years. He has effectively transitioned into a one-format specialist for the national side, with his last appearance in limited-overs international cricket tracing back to the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2024.

Once considered a premier, automatic pick across all three formats, Pant has gradually slipped out of India’s shorter-format blueprints due to a combination of erratic form and a sudden surge of highly reliable alternatives.

Rishabh has to work hard on his physical fitness, temperament: Syed Kirmani

The competition for the gloves in India's white-ball squads has grown incredibly fierce, pushing Pant down the pecking order. KL Rahul firmly holds the keys as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have consistently put up heavy performances to solidify their claims. Dhruv Jurel has continuously turned heads and impressed management whenever handed an opportunity.

ALSO READ: Massive update on ODI World Cup 2027 schedule, start and final dates revealed with tweaked format

The writing on the wall became even clearer with the squad announcement for the upcoming home bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan. While Ishan Kishan earned a high-profile recall to the team, Pant’s name was entirely absent from the sheet.

Addressing this white-ball rough patch, former Indian wicketkeeping legend and 1983 World Cup-winner Syed Kirmani noted that Pant needs to urgently refine three key areas of his game, placing the heavy emphasis on his temperament.

Kirmani pointed out that Pant's high-risk tendency to attack almost every delivery—without properly reading the match situation, remains a major concern.

This tactical critique isn't isolated; it squarely aligns with recent observations made by India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who has also publicly stressed the need for the dynamic batter to develop better situational awareness.

“Rishabh has to work hard on his physical fitness, consistency and temperament. His temperament is very vulnerable, turbulent. No player can say ‘I am a born hitter, I have to hit every ball’. You might have that particular day when you get rid of every ball you want to hit. But you have to look into the circumstances, what format you are playing, and what the team wants you to do," Kirmani told PTI.

“Wherever Rishabh Pant is selected, he has to show his physical fitness, he has to show his performance. He has to show his consistency is better than the other wicketkeepers competing with him. That’s it," he added.

ALSO READ: Big boost for Team India, star all-rounder undergoes successful shoulder surgery

Kirmani wasn't always this critical of Rishabh Pant. In fact, when Pant first burst onto the international stage, the legendary wicketkeeper showered him with the ultimate praise, even hailing him as the most naturally gifted Indian cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar.
'I thought he was the most talented or gifted after Sachin Tendulkar'

However, that grand assessment has evolved over time. With the rapid rise of a fierce new generation of young talent—including the likes of prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the bar for international cricket has been raised, forcing legends like Kirmani to re-evaluate who holds the future of Indian cricket.

Beyond the technical critiques, Kirmani emphasized that a player's growth ultimately comes down to personal accountability. He stressed that while world-class coaches, support staff, and mentors are vital for providing structural guidance and direction, they can only do so much. At the end of the day, the responsibility to listen, adapt, and make smart tactical choices under pressure rests squarely on the shoulders of the individual player.

“When Rishabh Pant broke into the Indian side, I thought he was the most talented or gifted after Sachin Tendulkar. And I considered him the most talented until this new boy (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) emerged. But now when I see him playing only Tests, I am quite baffled".

“The coaches, the mentors who are around, their duty is to guide and show the player the right direction and approach. Before a match starts, they can only guide the players. You can’t blame anybody else. It has to be the player all the way, whether he or she shows good form or not. Nobody can take the blame except the player himself," he concluded.