Former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer has given his take on where Pant could be going wrong as far as his leadership is concerned. He points out that the wicketkeeper-batter ‘panics’ when the contest is in a tight situation.
Against South Africa in the ongoing T20I series, a couple of his decisions have come under criticism including not bowling the full four overs of Yuzvendra Chahal in the series opener and then sending Axar Patel ahead of Dinesh Karthik in the batting order in Cuttack.
“Yes, we have seen that thing, even in the IPL (where Pant captains Delhi Capitals). Somewhere down the line I think, the more he leads, the better he will become. But currently, at this stage, I think that when the match becomes tight, he panics a little bit,” Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo.
Jaffer thinks India will have to play out of their skins from hereon if they aim to bounce back and even win the series despite trailing 0-2.
“To some extent, the series is out of India’s hands. Because if you are trailing 2-0 in a five-match series, if in any of the next matches there is even small shortcomings then… I think India will have to play brilliant cricket from hereon. Irrespective of the toss, an above-par score should be made,” he said.
The third T20I will be played tonight in Vizag.
