“England will be challenging” says Kapil Dev for ‘very valuable’ Rishabh Pant

1983 World Cup-winning Indian captain and one of the greatest all-rounders Kapil Dev heaped praises for Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant. In an interview with Mid-Day, Kapil Dev also shared some tips for the in form Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, that Pant must spend time in the middle and not just go and hit the ball from the word go.

Pant has been in excellent form. Pant scored 274 runs at an average of little over 68 against Australia in the Test series Down Under, 2020-21. Pant was the highest Indian run-scorer in Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21.

Pant’s performance against England at home earlier this year in February and March – 270 runs averaging 54. He was the second-highest run-getter for India in the series after Rohit Sharma (345).

Pant’s confidence in batting and wicket keeping has skyrocketed with his match-winning and match-saving innings. These career-defining knocks elevated Pant’s stature in the international circuit and bagged the Delhi Capitals captainship in absence of injured Shreyas Iyer. Pant lead Delhi Capitals to the top of the points table of IPL 2021 before being suspended mid-way.

Kapil Dev said Pant is mature now and pointed out similarities between Pant and Rohit Sharma.
“He looks a very mature cricketer now from the time he came into the side. He seems to have far more time to play his shots and obviously his range of strokes is awesome. But England will be challenging. He must spend more time in the middle and not just look to hit every ball. We used to say the same about Rohit Sharma, who had so many shots, but would step out and get out so many times,” Kapil Dev said.

Dev wanted Pant to unfold his shots after accessing the conditions.
“Same is with Rishabh now. He is an exciting player and very valuable too. All I would tell him is to take time before unfolding his range of shots. England is different,” he added.

An avid fan of Test cricket, Kapil Dev on how he is keeping up on Test cricket.
“Of course. I am a big fan of Test cricket. I love watching the full day’s play. If work keeps me away from the TV, I catch up with the highlights. I always watch as much as I can. There is nothing like Test cricket,” Kapil Dev concluded.

Pant has been named in the squad for the India tour of England. India will play six Test matches in England including the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand from June 18 to 22 followed by a five-match Test series against England in August-September.