"More consistency is required from him" - Harbhajan Singh on India batter's needed approach in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Harbhajan Singh wants India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to be more consistent with the bat in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He pointed out that the dashing stroke player needs to play as per the situation.
India and Australia are locked 1-1 heading into the third Test, starting in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14, of the five-match series. Pant hasn't yet scored a half-century in the series, with a 37-run knock in the visitors' first innings of the first Test in Perth being his best effort.
During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', Harbhajan replied in the affirmative when asked whether Pant needs to be more consistent with the willow.
"You definitely expect that from him. It's not that Rishabh Pant has come to Australia for the first time, and no one knows what he would do. He is known for knocks like the one he played in Brisbane (in the 2020-21 BGT), and today also that match is remembered for Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, who were youngsters, winning us that match," he said.
"It was a historic match but more consistency is required from him. He needs to apply himself a little more. It's okay that he plays the scoop and reverse sweep, but I feel when the situation and team need him to play solidly, he has to show that, and then only the consistency would come," the former India spinner added.
Harbhajan noted that the expectations from Pant this time are greater than the last trip Down Under. He pointed out that the fans know that on his day, the destructive keeper-batter can win a game single-handedly.
"He decided that he was going to take the bull by the horns" - Sunil Gavaskar on Rishabh Pant's approach in India's second innings in Adelaide
![Rishabh Pant scored 28 runs off 31 deliveries in India's second innings of the second Test. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/35e58-17339789221305-1920.jpg?w=500)
During a separate discussion on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar responded negatively when asked whether Rishabh Pant would replicate his Adelaide belligerent approach in Brisbane.
"I don't think he will play like that at least until he gets set. Here (in Adelaide), he got in to play in the second innings knowing that the situation looked pretty hopeless, and so he decided that he was going to take the bull by the horns," he responded.
However, the former India captain acknowledged that Pant's aggressive approach forced Scott Boland to alter his line and length.
"That was the attempt that he made, and he actually threw the Australians off for that little period in the evening on Day 2 when suddenly Boland, who was looking so good, was made to change his line and length. That is what Rishabh Pant does," Gavaskar observed.
Pant's 31-ball 28 in India's second innings in Adelaide was studded with five fours. He played a few unconventional shots before edging a Mitchell Starc delivery to Steve Smith at second slip.