Virender Sehwag Weighs in on Rishabh Pant’s Batting Approach Against KKR: Calls for Improvement

Cric News India IPL News 2025

April 4, 2024 0 1124

Virender Sehwag criticized Rishabh Pant’s performance against KKR, suggesting that despite his good innings of 55 runs off 25 deliveries, Pant should have aimed to remain unbeaten.

After a shaky start for Delhi Capitals against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs formed a partnership of 93 runs, each scoring a half-century. Despite their efforts, Delhi fell short by 106 runs.

Following the loss, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag criticized Pant’s batting approach, asserting that attempting a big shot cost him his wicket at 55 runs. Sehwag believed Pant should have been more cautious, aiming for a century and staying unbeaten for valuable batting practice. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a steady innings to avoid giving away wickets, as runs become scarce quickly.

“Yes, it (Pant’s innings) was good. But you didn’t score much in the first two games, and now, when you’re scoring runs, you are giving your wicket away. You should have stayed, reached a century, and remained unbeaten on 110 or 120. Because the runs dry pretty fast,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“His batting was good, he has come back to form and scoring at a brilliant strike rate. Aaj waise bhi pehle over se hi pata tha ki haarne wale hain, jeetenge toh nahi (Today, they knew from the very first over that their loss was certain, they wouldn’t win). This was the time to do some batting practice. Instead of going to nets now, you could’ve played 20 extra deliveries here. Then you could’ve probably skipped practice overall and returned to the next match straight away,” he added.

Pant secured his maiden half-century against CSK, but DC’s struggle continues with only one win in four games, placing them 9th in the IPL 2024 standings. In their upcoming match, they’ll clash with MI, led by new captain Hardik Pandya, who has faced criticism after three consecutive losses.