11 May,2025 09:30 AM IST | New Delhi | IANS
Rishabh Pant and Sanjay Bangar
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar pointed out that Rishabh Pant's slump in the white-ball format has been due to his urge to play behind the stumps over his strong zone - down the ground.
Pant has struggled miserably in the IPL 2025 season with only 128 runs in 11 games, including a half-century. The wicketkeeper-batter's dismal show with the bat for Lucknow Super Giants in the season often resulted in on-field frustration with his players.
Bangar noticed that Pant's dip in form is due to his shot selection, intended towards playing unconventionally behind the stumps, which led to his early dismissals in the IPL 2025.
"We have to recognise that he's still yet to totally understand the white-ball game - both formats, 50-over cricket as well as T20 cricket. A fabulous Test match batter, make no mistake about it, but here in this particular season, what I noticed is that he got out a number of times looking to play shots behind the wicket," Bangar said on Star Sports.
ALSO READ
IPL shortlists three venues in case of resumption after a week
Atherton questions Jacob Bethell's decision to prioritise IPL over Zimbabwe Test
Hardik Pandya extends support to Indian Armed Forces
How politics affected IPL over the years
IPL 2025 | "Everyone felt we should stand united as a nation": Chairman Dhumal
"Now, you pull out the best innings of Rishabh - where has he looked to score the runs? Drives through covers, step down the track and try to hit the sightscreen or go over midwicket, square. But here he was trying to play those reverse sweeps or shots that are very fine. So as a batter, I think probably he just got caught in that confusion and forgot that his best game, or that he plays at his best, is when he's looking to score down the ground," Bangar said.
"If you do look to score down the ground a lot of times, then all those other areas open up. But if you're only looking to score behind, then whatever is in front of you, you sort of are very much late and not in a great position to play," the former India batter concluded.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
