Sourav Ganguly has delivered a frank assessment of Rishabh Pant's recent performances, particularly his showing during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. With India set to tour England for a crucial five-match Test series, Ganguly's words carry significant weight, especially considering his own illustrious career and captaincy. The former skipper didn't hold back, expressing his disappointment with Pant's approach at the crease during the Australian tour.
Ganguly stated that he didn't like what he saw of Pant in Australia. According to Ganguly, Pant played too many shots and was simply swinging at every ball, which isn't conducive to success in conditions where the ball is moving around. He believes Pant needs to showcase more fight and determination. Ganguly wants Pant to grind down the opposition and be ugly, look ugly, but not give his wicket away by swinging at every ball.
Ganguly emphasized the importance of Pant adapting his natural game to the demands of Test cricket in England. While acknowledging Pant's stroke-playing ability, which is his strength, Ganguly stressed the need for him to adjust his approach based on the situation and conditions. Pant's form in Australia was a significant factor in India losing the series 1-3 after initially taking a 1-0 lead.
Ganguly's assessment comes at a critical juncture, with Pant poised to be a senior figure in the Indian batting lineup for the upcoming Test series against England. With the recent Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the onus will be on players like Pant to shoulder greater responsibility and guide the team. The series also marks the beginning of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, adding further significance to the outcome.
Ganguly isn't alone in expecting more from Pant. Ahead of the England tour, many have highlighted the need for Pant, along with other batsmen like Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, to step up and deliver substantial contributions. Ganguly pinpointed that, apart from Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, not many Indian batsmen average over 40 in overseas conditions. To be a successful Test team, Ganguly believes that three or four of the top six batsmen must average close to 50 in Test matches.
Ganguly also drew on his own experiences as captain, recalling how India's best performances away from home came when they consistently put up big scores of 400-500 runs. He cited wins in England, Pakistan, and a drawn series in Australia as examples of when India dominated with the bat. He highlighted India's win in Perth as an example, where they scored over 400 in the second innings. Ganguly stated that you can't win Tests by scoring 200, 250, or 180.
Ultimately, Ganguly's advice to Pant is centered on adapting to the swinging ball and showing greater determination at the crease. He wants Pant to display a solid defense, fight for his runs, and avoid the temptation to swing at every delivery. With the Test series against England on the horizon, Pant will need to heed Ganguly's words and demonstrate the maturity and adaptability required to succeed in challenging conditions.
