IND VS NZ | Team didn't perform, I don't believe in singling out Rishabh Pant, admits Virat Kohli

IND VS NZ | Team didn't perform, I don't believe in singling out Rishabh Pant, admits Virat Kohli

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Virat Kohli has stated that Rishabh Pant has got a lot of chances but the team is not looking for someone else in the youngster's place just yet as one player can't be singled out in a collective failure on Monday. Kohli added that if you push people too early, they can lose confidence.

Rishabh Pant has been under the scanner for the past one year because of his inconsistent run. His tally of 60 runs across four innings in the 0-2 Test series loss to New Zealand, which concluded here on Monday, has only amplified the debate whether it was prudent to leave out a keeper of Wriddhiman Saha's calibre and back Pant. Indian skipper Kohli came to Pant's defence after the series loss saying the team is not looking to try someone else in the Pant’s place just yet as one player can't be singled out in a collective failure.

"We have given him (Pant) a lot of chances in the home season as well starting from Australia. Then he was not playing for a bit. In turn, he really worked hard on himself. You need to figure out when is the right time to give someone else a chance. If you push people too early, they can lose confidence, collectively, we didn't perform. I don't believe in singling him out. We take the hit together as a group whether it's the batting group or as a team," admitted Kohli, reported Times Of India.

With Rishabh not performing consistently for the team over a year or so and yet making it into the team for almost every series when enquired if Pant has taken his place in the side for granted, Kohli made it clear that the culture of this team doesn't encourage anyone to think along those lines.

"I don't see anyone taking his place for granted in this team. That's the culture we have set. People are told to take responsibilities and work hard. Whether it happens or not is a different thing. Then you can have a conversation with the players. But no one has come here thinking I am going to play every game or I am indispensable," said Kohli.

As the head coach Ravi Shastri opined that Pant can make a difference in overseas conditions and he won't like to deviate during future tours, Kohli said that even he thinks in the similar fashion and believes in backing the youngster.

"The time that he didn't play, he really worked hard on his game. So we thought this is the right time because of his game and the way he plays because he can make a difference lower down the order. That was our planning behind it. We can't really fluctuate when it comes to what we planned," Kohli added.

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