‘Very surprised’: Pujara baffled by Rishabh Pant’s lackluster IPL record

New Delhi: Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara Admitted he found it “very surprising” Ritha Pant Unable to dominate the IPL like he conquered Test cricket, he said the wicketkeeper-batsman’s T20 figures did not reflect his immense talent.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Pujara, JioHotstar CTV’s Hindi feed expert, said Pant remains one of the best all-format batsmen in the country but feels that clarity of thinking and mentality issues could hamper his progress in T20 cricket.“I am also very surprised because someone like Rishabh Pant can attack any bowler in Test cricket and IPL and when we just look at the statistics, it is not as good as in Test cricket,” Pujara said while interacting with reporters on Wednesday.

The format comparison between Pant is increasingly becoming a talking point. While he remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests, he is no longer part of the T20I set-up and is currently behind KL Rahul in the ODI pecking order.In 49 Tests, Pant scored 3476 runs with 8 centuries and 18 fifties, including memorable hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa. In comparison, his IPL figures (3757 runs in 134 games and a strike rate of 146 with two centuries) are considered paltry for his reputation as a batsman.

“It’s more about mentality than technique”

Pujara insisted that Pant does not need to make major technical changes but needs to be more clear about his approach in the T20 innings.“I think it’s also a matter of mentality. Rishabh has to be clearer in the way he plays,” Pujara explained.“Technically, I don’t think Rishabh’s batting needs to change much. It’s just the mindset.”According to Pujara, Pant’s scoring areas look more certain in Test cricket than in T20 matches.“It’s also clarity of mind, clarity of what he needs to do when he steps into batting position and what kind of balls he should bowl because in Test cricket he knows these are his areas and even if the pitch is fenced off, he’ll still pick the right pockets to bat at,” he said.The veteran batsman also pointed out possible limitations in Pant’s white-ball game.“In the T20 format, where he is more dominant on the leg side, he has to work on improving his game in the offside, which will make him more successful,” Pujara added.

Does captaincy burden affect Pant?

Pujara also questioned whether captaincy pressure will affect Pant’s performance in the IPL.“We have seen that the captaincy has not helped him much,” Pujara said. “Especially for Rishabh Pant, if he focuses more on his game, it will definitely help him.”Pujara, however, maintained that the final decision rests with Pant and the franchise management.“Would Rishabh Pant have performed better if he had played as a player? If so, then I am sure he should have done so, but it is always a personal decision,” he added.Pujara also defended herself Suryakumar Yadav Amid criticism of the inconsistency in T20 cricket, he said statistics are more important in impact formats.“Consistency in the T20 format is overrated,” Pujara said.