Suppressing him is not the solution, Yuvraj Singh urges Team India to be patient with Rishabh Pant
World cup winner and former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has come out in support of Rishabh Pant stating that the youngster will not be able to produce his best amidst constant criticism. Yuvraj believes Team India needs to work its way around his psychology and help him come out of his slump.
Amidst criticism from multiple former players, wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has received support from World Cup-winning former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh. On Tuesday, Yuvraj Singh backed the under-fire Pant, saying the youngster doesn’t deserve the criticism coming his way and suppressing his abilities is not the best way forward.
“If you are going to suppress him, you are not going to get the best out of him,” Yuvraj said on the sidelines of ‘The Sports Movement’ summit of the India On Track organisation.
Pant, who has long been touted to become MS Dhoni's replacement, has been drawing flak for failing to grab his chances and getting out to rash shots and a perceived lack of ability to put a value on his wicket.
However, Yuvraj Singh believes the youngster does not deserve the criticism he is facing in his short career. “I really don’t know what is happening with him (Rishabh). He is facing a lot of criticism which is not needed. Somebody needs to get the best out of him.”
Yuvraj has asked people to refrain from comparing Rishabh Pant to MS Dhoni, as the legendary former Indian skipper MS Dhoni was not made in one day, his replacement will also not be made in one day.
Yuvraj, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, said the 21-year-old should be looked after psychologically.
“How you get the best out of him is completely based on his character. You need to understand his character, you need to understand his psychology and work according to that.
Yes, he has been given a number of chances but how do you get the best out of him. The people monitoring him in the team -- the coaches, the captain -- can make a lot of difference," Yuvraj added.
Meanwhile, former India opener Gautam Gambhir said he was not happy with the recent statements made by the team management on Rishabh Pant.
Notably, India's newly-appointed batting coach Vikram Rathour and coach Ravi Shastri had criticised Rishabh Pant about his approach towards his game.
"Personally, I have always backed Sanju Samson ahead of Rishabh for wicketkeeper-batsman's role but it is disappointing to see the team-management using words like 'from fearless to careless', 'rap on Rishbah's knuckles' and 'need for a backup of Rishabh'," Gambhir wrote in his column for Times of India.
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