Rishabh Pant was undeniably India’s best batter in the first Test. It wasn’t just that he scored hundreds in both innings in Headingley but how he went about things in the middle. On a batting-friendly pitch where bowlers were trying to lure him into playing big strokes, Pant often curbed his instinct.
He left and defended balls more than he smashed them. This was what stood out. In the absence of two senior batters, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Pant, who has been India’s best batter of the 2020s, took the onus on himself to take his side forward. Instead of increasing his attack percentage after scoring his half-century, Pant wanted to bat for his hundreds and beyond.
Does India need to manage Rishabh Pant’s workload?
However, he had some issues. Josh Tongue troubled him a bit. Hitting him several times. Then while wicketkeeping, a few balls struck Pant as well. Many stayed low and he had worn the blows. His work behind the stumps was great for the most part but he was slightly sluggish by the end of the match.
One can’t forget that Pant had to undergo surgery on his knee, and it’s been about 15 months since he returned to cricket. And has been playing across formats and in the IPL. He hasn’t had much of a break. And then in this Test, Pant didn’t just wicket-kept for 182.4 overs; he also batted for 103.2 overs.
No one spent as much time as him in the middle in the entire Headingley Test. Due to his batting position being higher than most other wicketkeepers, Pant has less recovery time. In the first innings, he batted for 54.4 overs (52.4 to 107.2) and then returned to keep for 100.2 overs. In the second dig, he batted for 46.4 overs (25.0 to 71.4) and then kept for 82 overs.
All of this surely can’t be easy on the body. We talk about Jasprit Bumrah’s workload, but no one worked harder than Pant in the first Test. Due to his reading of the game and ability to flip the match in a session’s time with the bat, he might be India’s best batter. Can India, therefore, risk him getting injured?
There are 7 days to recover for the Edgbaston Test. But knowing that Pant might be India’s best batter for the remaining four Test matches, maybe Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill might want to get another wicketkeeper in to take over the gloves from Pant.
Dropping Karun Nair for Dhruv Jurel – the solution?
It might not be what perhaps Pant wants, but to keep the batting strong, some weight should be taken off his knees. One way that can be done is by bringing Dhruv Jurel into the mix. He made his Test debut last year and mightily impressed everyone. He has scored 6 fifties in the last 18 months. One in South Africa, one in Australia, and three in England.
Karun Nair scored that double hundred against the England Lions, but Jurel was India’s most consistent batter. He scored fifties in all innings barring one. He’s a fine wicketkeeper and generally bats in the middle order. But it’s his technique that makes him good. He’s a solid defence against spin and pace. Can attack when required and then shut up shop.
Nair played at number six in Headingley and scored just 20 runs, which included a duck on his Test return after 8 years. He doesn’t deserve to be dropped. Given his performance, a longer run should be given. But Nair is already batting out of position. He’s a top-order batter. For India A, he played at three. But for his performance, Team India had to play him.
The position isn’t suited to him and failing after entering at 430/4 and 287/4 isn’t a great look. But the reason why he might make a place for Jurel isn’t his non-performance. It’s Pant. As mentioned, he could be a major contributor to India managing to come back into the 5-match Test series. His fitness is more important. He’s already a wicketkeeper in the first match.
Jurel is more than capable as a batter and his wicketkeeping skills might just be better than Pant’s. Bringing him in for Nair could ensure that Pant plays more knocks like he did in Headingley. Or else, with each match, the wear and tear on his body could affect his performance.
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