MyKhel Exclusive: Rishabh Pant’s gene is instinctive, let’s not change it, says former spinner Dilip Doshi

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There is a widespread criticism of Rishabh Pant for his shot selection in the Melbourne Test, especially when the loss was a team effort, not one that can be laid at the feet of a single individual.

The nature of Test cricket, with its ebb and flow, often makes it easy for people to latch onto key moments, like Pant's dismissal, and blame them for the loss. However, the reality is much more nuanced. Former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi while speaking to MyKhel simplified the entire process of playing the natural game.

"We shouldn't try to change Pant's game. He is instinctively a brilliant player, who will win you many games but will also frustrate you occasionally with injudicious shots," Doshi, who played and won a Test match against Australia in Melbourne in the eighties, said.

Pant's fearless, aggressive style is part of what makes him a unique player. His audacity to take on challenges, often in high-pressure situations, is what has earned him fame, especially in the past when he played match-winning innings.

That same approach, though, does sometimes lead to inconsistency - a factor that's well-known to anyone who follows his career closely. But this is the way he plays, and it's a double-edged sword.

"Any suggestion to drop him down the order would be to curb his huge talent. The problem with the current Indian team is that the more experienced stalwarts such as Rohit and Virat even KL Rahul are unable to bring any stability and reliance in our top order. Therefore, the brilliant Pant is reduced to the task of repairing the damage as well as playing his natural game," Doshi suggested.

"Other players too, whether in batting, bowling, or fielding, have roles to play in both victories and defeats. But India always have a paranoid dependence on winning matches in Australia because of his past exploits. In my personal opinion, Pant like Adam Gilchrist should be batting at No. 7, which will allow him to play his own game as well as make repairs, if need be," Doshi said.

It's part of the reason why he was picked in the first place: to bring that explosive energy to the team. His risk-taking ability has won India many games, but it does come with the possibility of such mistakes.

It's about balance - understanding that while his batting can sometimes be erratic, it also brings a unique flair and potential to change games in ways that others might not.

What's difficult for many to accept is that Pant's aggressive approach is not always going to fit conventional expectations of "correct" cricket. He's not a traditional "anchor" or a patient accumulator; he's a player who thrives in chaos and moments of flair. That's why he has fans and critics in equal measure.

People need to understand that he is not trying to play "proper" cricket by conventional standards - he's playing his brand of cricket, which, despite the risks, has the potential to change the course of a match.

The real challenge for Pant is refining that instinctive brilliance and learning to make better decisions when it matters, but that's something that will come with experience, and perhaps in time, more maturity as a player.

Doshi also pointed out an interesting facet towards the end of the match. "Yesterday in the post-tea session when all looked good for a potential draw for India, Pant's natural instinct of hitting the half-tracker ball out of the park was fully understandable.

"But, he had been practicing caution for the last two and a half hours for 25 to 28 overs and had his shoulder 'locked'. Lock shoulders indicate that Pant had not played any all-out shot. What he should have done is loosen his shoulder like all the bowlers do, swinging his both arms upside down and sideways, which also releases the tightness in the spine.

"If he had done that from time to time while batting, it would have been a different story with the ball clearing the boundary. Surely, he must be the most disappointed, but will learn with such setbacks." Doshi said while stressing Pant's peak will come very soon.