‘Test cricket demands discipline': Rishabh Pant told to save risky shots ‘for IPL' by Farokh Engineer
It remains to be seen whether he will recover in time to take the gloves in the fourth Test at Old Trafford and former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has said that Pant could play as a pure batsman. However, he needs to reduce the number of risky shots he goes for.
'Absolutely. Save those (risky shots) for IPL. Test cricket demands discipline,' Engineer, who 46 Tests for India between 1961 and 1975, is quoted as saying by RevSportz.'From a number three or four, you expect them to play proper cricket, get big scores, and build innings. Rishabh has scored centuries in both innings of a Test, which is remarkable. So yes, he could play purely as a batsman, especially with England's strong bowling lineup, now including Jofra Archer and Atkinson.'
Pant has scored 425 runs at an average of 70.83 in the series thus far, making him the second highest run scorer after captain Shubman Gill. Engineer said that the fact that he had joked about Pant's shot selection with him and the latter said that he just does whatever he feels is right in that moment.
'For the runs he's scored, yes, he can play as a pure batter. But Rishabh is unpredictable. Whatever comes to his mind, he does it. I joked with him about his shot selection, and he just laughed—said he does what feels right in the moment. He has the confidence and has gotten away with it often. But he needs to be more responsible in crucial moments, like right before lunch or at the end of a day's play. Still, he's immensely talented. He invents his own shots, and thankfully, helmets allow that now. In our time, we wouldn't have had any teeth left,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Lancashire to honour Farokh Engineer, Clive Lloyd with Old Trafford stands
Former India wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer and West Indies legend Clive Loyd are set to have stands named after them at the iconic Old Trafford ground by their former county side Lancashire on the sidelines of the fourth Test between India and England here. Engineer played for Lancashire for close to a decade while former West Indies captain Lloyd was with the club for two decades, making indelible contributions to the history of club. Sources told PTI that the stand-naming ceremony could be held on day one of the Test match that starts July 23. England lead the five-match series 2-1 after three high-intensity games. "It is a fitting honour for the both legends of the club," said the source. In 175 matches between 1968 and 1976, the 87-year-old Engineer made 5942 runs, took 429 catches and effected 35 stumpings for Lancashire. Two-time World Cup-winning West Indies skipper Lloyd, on the other hand, transformed the fortunes of the club after arriving as an overseas player in the early 1970s. When the Mumbai-born Engineer made his Lancashire debut, the club had not any major title for more than 15 years but he helped them lift the Gillette Cup four times between 1970 and 1975. Both Engineer and Lloyd would be immortalised in Lancashire history later this week. Interestingly, Engineer doesn't have a stand named after him at Brabourne Stadium where he played most of his cricket. "They were incredible times, and Old Trafford was a marvellous place to be. People would come for miles to see us play," Engineer had told the club website a few years ago. "From the Old Trafford dressing room we could see Warwick Road railway station and before the game we would see packed trains emptying the passengers on the platform. We could hear the chanting and the excited chatter and laughter," he recalled. Engineer also remembered receiving fan mail during his heydays. "It was amazing, our lockers would be stuffed full of requests for autographs and invitations to parties. Everyone in England was talking about that great team, names like Clive Lloyd, Harry Pilling, Peter Lever and Ken Shuttleworth," he said. "That buzz lasted for years and we were the most famous one-day team in the land." After retirement, Engineer made Manchester his home and continues to live here till date. Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, who is here on a personal visit, is also expected to attend the ceremony alongside the senior officials of the club.
Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘We realised he was our wildcard that would play for India for very long time..': Cheteshwar Pujara on his early memories of Jasprit Bumrah
Even though India lost the Lord's Test against England last week, the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy saw the 31-year-old Indian pacer taking his 13th five-for in Tests overseas with the five-wicket haul in England first innings breaking Kapil Dev's earlier record of most five-for by an Indian bowlers in overseas Tests. While Bumrah, who has played in 47 Tests, has a total of 217 wickets in his Test career, Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has recalled how he saw Bumrah as 'India's wildcard' early in pacer's career. 'It was on his first tour of England in 2018 when he went up another level as a bowler. By the time we went to Australia the following winter we realised he was our wildcard that would play for India for a very long time. He was instrumental as we won in Australia for the first time. You may remember on that tour of England a hooping inswinger he bowled to Keaton Jennings who was out lbw without playing a shot. England's batters just could not read his swing and, using the Dukes ball for the first time, when he got it to move, it moved a long I had bowled a ball like that one to Jennings I would have been running around celebrating and talking about it for ages. Jasprit stayed cool and didn't ever brag. He just gets on with the next delivery,' Pujara wrote in his column of BBC Sport. After making his debut in IPL, Bumrah would first break into the Indian test team in South Africa in 2018. The then 25-year-old would end with four wickets in the Cape Town Test in the series. Pujara, who was playing in the Test match which India lost by 72 runs, recalled how he had first faced Bumrah in a club match long before he played in IPL and for India. The Saurashtra batsman also shared how Bumrah was unlike any other bowler due to his unique action and was quicker than Mohammad Shami. 'Throughout the following years he began to make his name in the Indian Premier League but before he played his first Test in Cape Town in South Africa in 2018, there were still a lot of question marks around him in India. His action was unique, people questioned whether he would be able to swing the red ball or if he had the consistency and control for the longer format. He may have only taken four wickets in that first Test but he answered all of those questions. I remember standing at first slip with Virat Kohli next to me at second and Shikhar Dhawan at third. We were all saying how it just felt unlike any of the other bowlers. We had Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya playing in that game but again he felt different. Shami was quick but Bumrah was quicker,' Pujara wrote further. Bumrah's 13 th five-for in overseas Tests came in 35 overseas Tests while Kapil Dev had made the earlier record of 12 five-for in overseas Tests in 66 overseas Tests for India. Bumrah, who will be featuring in the Manchester Test, currently has 49 wickets in 11 Tests in England. With Wasim Akram currently holds the record of an Asian bowler with most number of Test wickets in England with a tally of 53 wickets in 14 Test matches in England. Pujara would also talk about how the Indian pacer is a keen observer of the game even while sitting in the dressing room. 'In the dressing room he is always watching the game. Most fast bowlers come off the field and relax with their feet up. He does relax but he always has an eye on the field. When I used to sit next to him he would always be giving an input on what our batters or the opposition could be doing differently, which is why he was viewed as a candidate to be captain before India appointed Shubman Gill. Most people talk about Bumrah's skills with the ball, his angle or his action but his biggest strength is often overlooked. He has a brilliant cricket brain which comes from his time in the IPL. There he worked with people like former Sri Lanka bowler Lasith Malinga and has gained the skills to outsmart a batter. His first instinct is always to bowl his best ball but if a batter gets in he knows all of their strengths and weaknesses. He has taken the skills from white-ball cricket to become the complete Test bowler,' Pujara wrote. The Indian batsman also recalled how Bunch had helped him get to a hundred in the fourth Test against England at Southampton during the 2018 England series. Puraja and Bumrah had added 46 for the last wicket as Pujara completed his hundred and remained unbeaten on 132 runs. 'One of my favourite moments on that England tour in 2018 came in Southampton when Jasprit helped me get through to a hundred in the first innings. I was on 96 when he came out at number 11 and I have to admit I did not think I would get there but he walked in and said 'I will defend. I don't know if I will survive but I will do my best. I ended up finishing on 132 not out as we put on 46 for the last wicket. That day sums him up because whether batting or bowling he is a very competitive cricketer. When it comes to his bowling, no matter the situation of the game, he always wants and believes he can get a wicket. Ultimately, he is the perfect team man,' wrote Pujara.
Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Can someone show Prithvi this? It can be done': Pietersen lauds Sarfaraz's fitness overhaul, points out Shaw
Middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan underwent a rigorous transformation, shedding nearly 17 kgs in hopes of reviving his international career after being unexpectedly omitted from India's Test squad for the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Series against England. Working tirelessly with his father — his lifelong coach — Sarfaraz dedicated the past few months to intense fitness training. Having gone unsold in the Indian Premier League 2025, the batter channelled that disappointment into his weight-loss mission. In Sarfaraz's absence, Karun Nair was picked by the selection committee for the England tour as the Karnataka batter made his India comeback after eight years. Former England star Kevin Pietersen praised Sarfaraz's dedication, predicting it would translate to improved on-field performances. Posting on X, Pietersen wrote: 'Outstanding effort, young man! Huge congrats and I'm sure it's going to lead to better and more consistent performances on the field. I love the time you've spent reorganising your priorities! LFG!' In a pointed remark, he added: 'Can someone show Prithvi this please? It can be done! Strong body, strong mind!' referencing out-of-form Prithvi Shaw, who has faced persistent criticism regarding his fitness. Outstanding effort, young man! Huge congrats and I'm sure it's going to lead to better and more consistent performances on the field. I love the time you've spent reorganising your priorities! LFG! 🚀 Can someone show Prithvi this please? It can be done! Strong body, strong… — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 21, 2025 Shaw was dropped by the Mumbai senior selection committee last year from a Ranji Trophy game due to poor fitness and was prescribed a two-week fitness programme prepared by the MCA trainers. The team management had informed MCA that Prithvi Shaw's body contains 35 percent fat and that he needs rigorous training before he gets back into the side. Last October, the selection committee of MCA had taken a call that Shaw needed to shed off a few kilos, if he wants to play for the Mumbai team again. His fitness and form never improved and as a result the selection committee decided to drop him from Vijay Hazare Trophy too which was played in December 2024. Shaw moved away from Mumbai and is set to play for Maharashtra from the next domestic season after receiving a NOC from MCA.
