Sachin Tendulkar Sounds Alarm Over Rishabh Pant Risky Batting Ahead of England Test Series

June 20, 2025: Team India will kick off its new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle from today, taking on Ben Stokes’ England in the first Test of the five-match series on English soil. The series marks not only a critical phase in the WTC but also the beginning of a transitional era for Indian Test cricket, following the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

With a relatively young squad, the spotlight is now on Shubman Gill, who leads the side for the first time as captain, and Rishabh Pant, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, who has been appointed his deputy. Pant’s fearless and aggressive style of batting has thrilled fans but also drawn criticism, especially for his tendency to throw away his wicket under pressure. This aspect has raised questions about his decision-making and temperament in the longer format.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has weighed in, stressing the importance for Pant to evolve and bat with greater responsibility. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Tendulkar urged Pant to trust his instincts but also highlighted the need for flexibility in approach depending on match situations.

“He [Pant] should back his instincts most of the time,” Tendulkar said. “But there’ll be situations where he’ll have to curb his game in the interests of the team. Sometimes you need to take a defensive approach for 45 minutes or even a couple of hours to save the game, where risky shots have to be taken out of the equation. He can still be positive, but shot selection will be crucial.”

When asked how he would handle Pant if he were captain, Tendulkar shared his philosophy: “Nine out of ten times, if I’m the captain, I’d say, ‘Just go out and play your game, why worry about anything?’ But if we need to save the game, that’s when the approach has to change. Otherwise, I’d tell him to be himself and do what’s best for the team.”

Pant will continue to bat at number five, but with his added leadership responsibilities, the expectations on his temperament and game awareness have intensified. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman, known for his fearless strokeplay, now faces increasing calls for maturity—especially after criticism during India’s recent 2024/25 tour of Australia.

As India embarks on this new chapter against a strong England side, all eyes will be on the young leaders to prove their mettle in the longest format of the game.