Rishabh Pant will be a key figure in the India vs England Test series. Alongside India captain Shubman Gill, Pant is part of the new leadership group in the Indian cricket team following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Pant has repeatedly proven himself as a match-winner in Tests, his recent form has been somewhat underwhelming. Except for a century in Lucknow Super Giants’ last IPL 2025 match, Pant hasn’t had many notable performances lately.
Hemang Badani Advises Rishabh Pant to Focus on Batting, Not Leadership
Hemang Badani, coach of IPL team Delhi Capitals, has urged Gautam Gambhir to counsel India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant to stop overthinking his leadership roles and concentrate on his batting. Badani said, “It’s important that someone like Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, talks to him and says, ‘Rishabh, just play your game. Don’t think too much about captaincy or vice-captaincy—you’re the second in command, but none of that should weigh on you. You have a style of play that has worked well over the years, and I believe it will continue to benefit us if you stick to it.’ Pant often comes to the crease when the second new ball is due, so his approach is crucial.”
He also emphasized that Rishabh Pant should not alter his aggressive batting style. “I genuinely hope it doesn’t change at all. He has found the right balance between attacking and defensive stroke-making in this format. There’s no reason to change that,” Badani told Hindustan Times.
He added, “You want to keep the bowlers under pressure, forcing them to stay on the mat, rather than leaving balls and letting them settle into a good line and length. When bowlers get comfortable, it’s easier for them to take wickets.
