NEW DELHI: India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Thursday that Rishabh Pant should calibrate his batting approach to the demands of each match situation. He also confirmed that the wicketkeeper-batter had no problem with losing the Test vice-captaincy role ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting Saturday.
Key takeaways
- Ryan ten Doeschate urged Rishabh Pant to adjust his batting based on the flow of the game.
- The assistant coach stressed that leadership does not require a formal designation.
- Pant was removed as India’s Test vice-captain when the BCCI named the squad for the Afghanistan Test last month.
- Ten Doeschate said Pant accepted the change without any concerns.
- Pant remains in India’s 15-man Test squad for the match against Afghanistan despite the role change.
Leadership without a title
Speaking before the one-off Test versus Afghanistan, ten Doeschate highlighted that leadership can be expressed through decision-making and execution rather than a specific badge. “You don’t need an official title to become a leader,” he said. “We want him to shape his game to suit the situation.”
Ten Doeschate’s comments came after Pant was dropped from the vice-captaincy position when the BCCI announced India’s squad for the Afghanistan Test last month. Asked about the decision, he pointed to Pant’s reaction, saying the wicketkeeper-batter had no complaints about being removed from the role.
Form, scrutiny, and squad details
In Test cricket, Pant has compiled 3,476 runs across 49 matches at an average of 42.91. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that Pant’s aggressive instincts can bring rewards for India, but he has also drawn criticism at times for taking risks that may not always be necessary, with some calling his approach reckless.
His recent domestic Test run has not been as productive: in India’s most recent home series against South Africa, Pant managed 49 runs at an average of 12.25. Even so, he continues to be part of India’s squad for the Afghanistan Test, retaining his spot despite the change in leadership responsibilities.
India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
