XtraTime Web Desk: Rishabh Pant’s top knock of 78 runs in just 37 deliveries helped Delhi Capitals to beat Rajasthan Royals and reach the top of the points table with 14 points in 11 matches. DC’s mentor Sourav Ganguly believes that one shouldn’t experiment with a player like Rishabh Pant and let them play their normal game.
“You don’t do much experiment with the match winners like Rishabh Pant. When they play on these types of wickets like Mumbai, Mohali, Kolkata or Rajasthan they win you matches. He faces a bit problem in Delhi as the wicket is totally different there. When a player bat like this you don’t give much suggestions to them, you just tell them to play their normal game as in this format you need to hit the balls,” said Sourav after the match.
During his tenure as the Indian captain he brought a lot of youngsters like Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and many more. On being asked what are the basing difference between those youngsters and the current young guns of India, Dada replied,”They were very good players as well and they had done really well for India on their time. In their generation they mad the country proud. In the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup Irfan and RP bowled brilliantly to give India the cup. RP was with there with us in the Test team in England when we own the Test series after 25 long years. Now it’s time for Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and others. And that’s why I am saying that the Indian cricket future is secure. In every generation you get a few game changers.”
When Irfan came in the team at Adelaide Sourav said to him you ball what you want, if he says the same to the DC players as well? In reply Ganguly added,”You only make the fine tune and keep the players mentally fresh ahead of the game. At this level if you are talented only then you can play at this level. It was with Irfan and RP then and now it’s with Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan.
“You just create an atmosphere where the cricketers don’t face much pressure. We are fortunate that we are playing good cricket this season. In last few years the luck wasn’t there with the team. If you can see RCB has a great team but they are languishing at the bottom of the table. But in this format you need to play fearless cricket and currently the boys are playing just like that.”
Ahead of the matches many times it was seen that he was giving fielding practice to the players. When Irfan funnily asked why he does this, Ganguly concluded by laughingly saying,”I want them to become a good fielder like me as I was in my early age.”