Why Rishabh Pant Struggles with Drops in Cricket

Rishabh Pant Needs to Focus More on Keeping:

Rishab Pant, a rising star in international cricket, is facing a significant challenge in his role as both a wicket-keeper and a batsman. The primary issue lies in his performance as a keeper. Despite his notable talent as a runscorer, Pant struggles with maintaining concentration on every ball.

Occasionally, his talkative nature diverts his attention, leading to defensive plays and dropped catches. Lack of focus is a critical factor in his performance as a wicket-keeper. This inconsistency undermines the role's expectations, impacting the team's performance in crucial matches.

Technical Flaws Highlighted by Gilchrist

Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist pointed out technical flaws in Pant's keeping after a notable dropped catch. Gilchrist rightly emphasized the importance of precise glovework, which is crucial, especially in overseas conditions where the ball's seam and bounce are unpredictable.

It's clear that Pant lacks the technical expertise required for tests, which are known for their challenging conditions. His technical shortcomings are exacerbated by his less-than-perfect focus, making it imperative for him to work on these areas to improve his overall performance.

Primary Reason for Selection

Despite his shortcomings, Pant's selection is due to his ability to dynamically score runs in the middle order. This adaptability has kept him in the team, but it is essential for the selectors to consider his contributions holistically. Improving as a keeper could significantly enhance the team's prospects in test cricket.

His primary role in the team is as a batsman, but his keeping skills are critical for his versatility. The selectors must weigh his defensive abilities more heavily and ensure that his technical shortcomings are addressed to avoid costly mistakes in the future.

Expectations on Batsmen to Offer Better Catches

It's not entirely Pant's fault. The batsmen should offer him catchable chances. However, it seems that they are not doing so consistently. Therefore, cricket's governing body, the ICC, should consider fining or banning batsmen who frequently play long and risky shots that result in dropped catches.

Encouraging more disciplined playing from batsmen can help reduce the number of catches Pant has to handle. Consistent offers of simple catches could alleviate some of the pressure on Pant and help him focus more effectively on his keeping.

By enforcing stricter regulation and encouraging better defensive play from batsmen, the team's overall performance in test cricket can improve significantly. Rishabh Pant's career could benefit immensely from such a shift in focus, both as a player and as a wicket-keeper.