India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate revealed that Rishabh Pant and India's head coach Gautam Gambhir held an important one-on-one discussion ahead of team's upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to commence in Mullanpur on Saturday. The proactive meeting comes at a crucial juncture for the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter as he looks to find his rhythm ahead of the summer's international fixtures.
ALSO READ: IND vs AFG: Pinpointing the last time Virat Kohli missed the entire series for India owing to injury
I actually heard him and Gauti having a chat: India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate
The conversation was largely prompted by Pant's recent struggles for consistency on the field, as he has found himself going through a lean patch of form lately. In particular, the nature of his aggressive dismissals during the Test series against South Africa last year drew considerable scrutiny from pundits and fans alike, putting pressure on the southpaw to refine his shot selection ahead of this weekend's red-ball clash.
Doeschate noted that Pant remains deeply committed to embracing his responsibility as a senior player and a positive role model within the team. He revealed that he personally overheard Pant and head coach Gautam Gambhir having a detailed conversation on the matter, where they discussed the standards of conduct expected from a senior figure and explored how to communicate effectively within the group regarding his style of play.
“I think he’s committed to playing a good role model and senior player. I actually heard him and Gauti having a chat around that yesterday. ‘How you want to conduct yourself as a senior player’, expanding to the communications or so, how you’re going to play,” Doeschate said at the pre-match press conference.
“I don’t think he needs a formal title to be a leader in an elite setup like this, and I think Rishabh understands that,” he added.
The former Dutch international emphasized that the Indian team management has absolutely no intention of forcing Pant to curb his natural brilliance or aggressive flair. Instead, the coaching staff is simply looking for the left-hander to tone down his impetuosity and show greater adaptability, ensuring that his high-risk strokeplay aligns better with the specific demands and match situations confronting the team.
We’ve got no complaints from Pant: Doeschate
This upcoming one-off clash between India and Afghanistan serves as the opening fixture of Afghanistan's multi-format tour, which will immediately be followed by a three-match ODI series. The contest also carries immense historical significance for the region, as it will mark the first time that a Test match is hosted at the newly developed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
“With Rishabh’s brilliance, we don’t want to take away all the stuff that he does but occasionally if he can adjust his game to play the (match) situations slightly more, I think that’s something you’ll see him work on,” Doeschate further stated.
“He’s been in great spirits again. He’s always one of those guys who’s happy and cheerful and sort of drives the spirit in the team and we’ve got no complaints from him. You wouldn’t notice that his role in the leadership structure has changed, so no concerns about Rishabh, and I can’t wait to see him play again,” he concluded.