Cheteshwar Pujara finds it fully baffling {that a} high quality batter like Rishabh Pant has not precisely been in a position to replicate his Take a look at cricket exploits within the IPL area the place the southpaw’s report has been fairly bizarre.
Whereas Pant stays India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in red-ball cricket, he has misplaced floor in relation to white-ball cricket. He’s no extra part of the T20I facet regardless of being a T20 World Cup winner in 2024, and stays second-choice in ODIs after KL Rahul.
Pant over time has performed 134 IPL video games, scoring 3,757 runs with two centuries and 20 fifties at a strike-rate of 146 which is barely beneath par for a top-four batter. In 49 Assessments, he has scored 3,476 runs with eight centuries and 18 fifties with three determine scores in England, Australia, South Africa.
“I’m additionally very stunned as a result of somebody like Rishabh Pant who can assault any bowler in Take a look at cricket and his IPL, after we simply have a look at the stats, it’s not so good as in Take a look at cricket,” Pujara informed reporters in an interplay on Wednesday.
“I feel it’s the mindset factor additionally. There must be some extra readability in the best way Rishabh performs,” he mentioned. “I nonetheless really feel that somebody like Pant, who’s a high quality batter (and) can play all three codecs of the sport, his report in T20 cricket must be loads higher than what it displays,” Pujara mentioned.
The previous India batter mentioned some readability is definitely wanted so far as Pant’s batting is worried within the IPL. Having began the IPL this yr desirous to bat within the top-order, Pant has returned to center after just a few disappointing outings.
“Technically, I don’t see lots of modifications which is required in Rishabh’s batting. It’s simply the mindset,” Pujara mentioned.
“It’s additionally readability of ideas, readability in what he must do when he walks in to bat and the sort of photographs he ought to play as a result of in Take a look at cricket, he is aware of that these are his areas and even when the sector is stored on the fence, he nonetheless picks the fitting pockets to hit the photographs.”
Whereas Pujara mentioned Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya should analyse if the captaincy burden is affecting his efficiency or not, the previous India batter mentioned it definitely will not be figuring out for Pant.
“I imply, they (Pandya and Pant) are those who can reply that however typically sure, it might probably have an effect on. Particularly within the case of Rishabh Pant, if he’s focusing extra on his recreation, that can positively assist him as a result of we’ve got seen that captainship hasn’t been serving to him loads.
“However it’s all the time his private determination whether or not he needs to proceed as a pacesetter or the franchise seems at one other chief and if Rishabh Pant performs as a participant will his efficiency get higher? If it does, then I’m positive he ought to do this, however it’s all the time a private name,” Pujara added.
Pujara, nonetheless, defended India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles with the bat saying consistency is over-rated within the IPL.
“Consistency is overrated Iin a T20 format and I’m not denying, Surya’s efficiency hasn’t been nice,” Pujara mentioned.
“Sure, it might probably positively enhance however you’re enjoying a task for the group in a T20 format. If you’re strolling in and scoring say an eight-ball 20 runs and if it’s serving to the group and you’re getting out, you aren’t taking a look at that particular person efficiency.
“As a result of typically our expectation is for a participant to get 40-50-60 no matter that increased quantity is however the influence which you usher in a group is extra vital than the variety of runs you get,” Pujara added.
Printed on Might 06, 2026