Immediately after leading Delhi to a convincing victory over Andhra in their opening Vijay Hazare Trophy match, captain Rishabh Pant headed straight back to the middle. While his teammates celebrated, Pant embarked on a dedicated, hour-long solo net session at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, underlining his urgent quest for consistency in limited-overs cricket.
The Solitary Grind: An Hour of Power-Hitting
At around 4:30 PM on Wednesday, with the match concluded, Pant took guard for an open net session. For the next sixty minutes or more, the left-hander focused intensely on his ball-striking. With a member of the Delhi support staff using a side-arm and off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen bowling, Pant worked on pacing his innings.
He mixed powerful swings with defensive blocks, followed by charges down the pitch to loft the ball over long-on or drill it through the covers. He also practiced his audacious ramp shots and reverse-sweeps, sending the ball to all parts of the ground and thoroughly testing the lone ball boy.
Even when he hit a couple of massive shots onto the main ground, he playfully pleaded with the staff for another chance, promising not to hit it there again—only to promptly repeat the feat. As shadows grew longer, Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh joined in to help retrieve balls, frequently pointing to his watch, but Pant was relentless, asking for "last 10 balls" which turned into a couple more overs.
The Underlying Struggle: Seeking White-Ball Clarity
The session was not just about brute force; it revealed a batsman working through specific challenges. When Shokeen induced some mis-hits, particularly on sweep shots, Pant was heard admonishing himself, "Come on yaar, mat karo. Watch the ball, play straight." This frustration points to an area experts believe has hindered his white-ball progress.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has previously noted that Pant is still mastering the nuances of ODI and T20 cricket. "You pull out the best innings of Rishabh – where has he looked to score the runs? Drives through covers, step down the track and try to hit the sightscreen or go over midwicket," Bangar said, suggesting Pant's best game is when he scores straight down the ground.
Despite being eight years past his ODI debut, Pant has played only 31 matches, with his last appearance in August 2024. His position in the pecking order was highlighted when the team management preferred Ruturaj Gaikwad at No. 4 during the ODIs against South Africa in Shreyas Iyer's absence.
The Road Ahead: Vijay Hazare as a Launchpad
With KL Rahul firmly established as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, and Ishan Kishan as the second keeper for the T20 World Cup, Pant finds himself in a challenging spot. The Vijay Hazare Trophy presents a critical platform for him to stake his claim.
Pant possesses a unique X-factor that the Indian team could utilize—a left-handed, 360-degree batsman capable of dominating both pace and spin. In a batting lineup filled with right-handers, his skills offer a distinct advantage. However, consistent big scores have been elusive.
This extended net session after a match win is a clear signal of Pant's determination. He knows that to be in contention for selection, especially for series like the upcoming one against New Zealand, he must translate his undeniable talent into substantial performances. The grind in Bengaluru has just begun.
