"I don't have an issue" - Robin Uthappa on Rishabh Pant's dismissal in  IND vs BAN T20 World Cup Super 8 match

Team India's Rishabh Pant played an impressive 36-run knock in the Super 8 match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Bangladesh on Saturday, June 22, in Antigua. The reverse sweep proved to be the southpaw's downfall as he was caught at short third man off-spinner Rishad Hossain's bowling.

Several experts expressed their displeasure over Pant's shot selection. They suggested that he could have avoided the high-risk stroke, given that he had already hit a six and a four in the same over. Robin Uthapppa, on the other hand, has a contrasting take on the keeper-batter's dismissal.

The former cricketer said that he didn't have an issue with Pant losing his wicket while playing the reverse sweep. Uthappa also mentioned that in his career, even he got out a few times by playing the reverse sweep.

Indicating that being overly critical of Pant's shot selection could result in the batter second-guessing himself, he said on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube channel:

"I don't have an issue with the way he got out. It's very natural. Because I have done that, right? The reverse sweep was my shot. And I got pummeled, bro, when I used to get up and play the reverse sweep.

"I remember RCB, Pune Warriors, KKR and a lot of people. And basically, when I kept hearing that same narrative over and over again, you get to a point where you start second-guessing yourself. And that's the worst thing you can do as a cricketer. The worst thing you can do is second-guess yourself as a cricketer. You don't want to do that."

Uthappa pointed out that Pant has had success with the reverse sweep and he should continue backing the shot. Emphasizing the importance of letting the dynamic batter back his instincts, he said:

"And for me, as a cricketer, from the outside, if that is his shot and we have seen him succeed so much with that shot, I will say, bro, double down on it. You want to get out another few times? Get out. It's okay. So I'd rather have you trusting your instinct and backing yourself and get that working for us, rather than me putting the seed of doubt in your head and you not backing your instincts.

"Because the minute you don't back your instincts, you might take away one shot. But in the process of taking away one shot, you are taking away more than just one shot. You are taking away three, four, perhaps, arrows in your repertoire or in your quiver where you become less effective."

The Men in Blue completed a comprehensive 50-run victory over Bangladesh, successfully defending a 197-run target. Hardik Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 50.

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"That calculated batsmanship needs to be there" - Robin Uthappa's advice for Rishabh Pant

Robin Uthappa added that while he was fine with Rishabh Pant playing the reverse sweep, he should consider taking calculative risks instead of looking to attack every ball.

He cited the example of former India opener Virender Sehwag, who would often take a single after hitting a couple of boundaries. Uthappa commented:

"I don't mind with the way he got out. My issue is more like, if you have got in, say 15 runs in that over, save some for the next few overs also. That calculated batsmanship needs to be there.

"Like a Viru bhai would do that so well. Like a leg-spinner is bowling or an off-spinner is bowling, he will milk him for two boundaries and then take a single. So that he comes back the next over."

Elaborating on Pant's dismissal, Uthappa opined that the left-handed batter could have afforded to play high-risk cricket if he was batting with a top-order batter. He remarked:

"If say, Rishabh had Virat batting with him when he decided to take Rishad on completely and want to score 30 runs in that over, I would have had no issues. The fact that he had Hardik there. And then after Hardik, you only had one or two more all-rounders there. No pure batters there.

"For me, that's where my concern comes up. Where I am like, okay, that's why you need to apply a little bit of batsmanship from a batter's point of view. What would actually make him less predictable is to actually back himself. Even if he had backed himself to play another big shot."

Rishabh Pant has been in fine form at the 2024 T20 World Cup. With 152 runs from five outings, he is India's leading run-getter in the ongoing showpiece event.