- April 28, 2025
Rishabh Pant. The man who reverse-swept James Anderson when Anderson was at his very best, and who danced down the pitch at the Gabba as if he owned it. Pant is a force in Test cricket—unpredictable and reliable, flamboyant and steady. But when it comes to T20s, particularly the IPL, Pant suddenly seems like a jigsaw piece with a bent edge. How can a player who excels under the pressure of Test cricket look so far from being in form in the quick-fire world of T20s? Let’s dig into this cricketer’s contradiction.
Long Format, Long Leash: Why Pant’s Test Game Shines
What makes Pant successful in Test cricket? Time. In red-ball cricket, Pant has the luxury of time because he can assess and get in and then become his chaotic self. He doesn’t have to come out at the strike and rip from the first ball. There is time to take a breath, assess the situation, and then blast.
In tests, the bowlers are sometimes desperate for wickets and aggressive. The fielding positions for bowlers are catchers, which means there are often gaps in the outfield. The great thing about…. Pant’s game is that he doesn’t need to create shots – he can just hit a gap, and trust his timing.
Pant’s fearlessness plays into the games positively in Tests. While others are often playing safe, he backs himself and plays positively. Think Sydney and then Ahmedabad – calculated risks that turn games. And that sense of purpose grows in a format that evolves slowly over time.
T20 Captaincy Woes: Is Instinct Enough?
This is where the turn occurs. T20 isn’t simply a different format, it is different altogether. You are not simply playing cricket, you are playing lightning-fast chess. So far, Pant’s captaincy has not matched this level.
Despite having a high cricketing IQ when he has a bat in hand, experts have pointed out Pant’s struggles with the nitty gritty of T20 captaincy. A former cricketer complained on commentary that Pant too often relies too much on gut feel rather than using data and matchups, a must with T20. Where’s the plan B when your plan A doesn’t work? Being able to be adaptable is what makes captains good or great, and Pant still seems to be learning this the hard way.
And then there is DRS. Pant has a reputation for having dodgy reviews even in Tests. If you are a keeper-captain and you cannot and won’t get the path of the ball accurate, you become a liability.
Batting Role Crisis: Middle-Order Mayhem
The player who loves momentum is suddenly in a position to grind out difficult runs against bowlers who have come in specifically to counteract him. The biggest issue is that Pant has yet to define his T20 batting identity. Is he a stabilizing anchor? A finisher? Or a dasher from ball one? At Delhi Capitals, he has floated in and out of various roles, often coming to the wicket to save one innings and then trying to accelerate while facing pressure in another innings. This lack of clarity affects rhythm, and rhythm is everything in T20.
It’s also about match-ups. Pant, the left-handed touch artist, walks into a convenient trap of off-spinners and wide lines. With no game plans and no meaningful interaction with analysts, consistent match-ups make batting easier for bowlers, and even more so, if they don’t have to think about field placements.
Rishabh Pant is not failing in T20s because he isn’t talented—he is very talented. No doubt about it. The guy has it all. Right now, Pant looks conflicted as he tries to find that balance between instinct and a game plan. This indecisiveness can be a dangerous place to find yourself in such a demanding game like T20 cricket.
Cricket fans, what do you think? Is Pant going to become a T20 genius, or does he simply need to do what he does best? Let us know below!
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
