Rishabh Pant, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, has been questioned by Kevin Pietersen about his abilities as a top-order batsman. Pietersen claims that being in the top three would be “a little too far ahead” for the India wicketkeeper-batter.
As LSG were dismissed for 141 in 18.4 overs in their IPL season opener against Delhi Capitals, Pant was run out at the non-striker’s end for 7 (9 balls) as the ball brushed spinner Mukesh Kumar’s fingers and broke the stumps.
Pietersen claims that Pant’s decision to bat in the top order this season will limit his enjoyment of cricket after LSG lost the match by 6 wickets.
“I think it’s a 50-50 call, but we’ll see. But (you’ll) definitely see me in the top order,” PTI quoted Pietersen telling JioHotstar.
Pietersen opposed Pant opening the innings.
“When you look at the strength and depth of LSG’s batting, is Rishabh Pant really an opening batter? I think he might have gone a little too far ahead of where he was in the line-up compared to last year. Last year, he moved down the order, and now suddenly it’s, ‘I’m going to come up to the top’. I think he just needs to go out and enjoy his cricket,” Pietersen added.
By moving up the order, Pant is merely placing himself under more pressure, according to the former England captain.
“Don’t force yourself into batting at (number) three, enjoy the luxury of that position. I think he puts himself under tremendous pressure by opening the batting,” Pietersen said.
Pietersen, who mentored the Delhi Capitals last year, stated that the team must make an investment in Sameer Rizvi after the Uttar Pradesh batsman turned the tables on LSG by scoring 70 not out off 47 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes).
In a chase of 142, LSG had the Capitals reeling at one point at 26/4, but Rizvi’s unbeaten 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket saw his team cross the finish line.
“He played the situation beautifully, and I’m not surprised. I spent a lot of time with Sameer last season, watched him closely. He scored a hundred in a warm-up game but, unfortunately, couldn’t find a place in the first half of the tournament,” Pietersen said.
But later in the season, when he had his chance, he demonstrated his abilities, and everyone looked up and said, “This kid is a proper player, and we probably need to invest in him for a period of time.”
“When you invest in a young player, you need that trust that the player can pay you back, and he has done exactly that in this game.”
“He really delivered under pressure. Once you get your team over the line in a big game, especially the first game of the IPL, in a tense situation and a lot of eyeballs on you, not being in the first XI, winning that game makes you feel far better than just scoring a hundred in a high-scoring match,” Pietersen added.
