Sanjay Manjrekar hails Rishabh Pant: India’s greatest wicketkeeper-batter ever

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik raised questions about the coaching tactics of head coach Gautam Gambhir following Rishabh Pant's dismissal in the first Test at Leeds.

Pant, who scored a commanding 134 runs, was seen to have his natural aggressive style curtailed after a message was reportedly sent to him to "calm down" during his innings. Karthik, while commentating for Sky Sports, suggested this coaching intervention might have disrupted Pant's rhythm and led to his eventual dismissal.

"Also very interesting, when a message was sent out to Rishabh Pant, it curbed his style of play. He was just very carefree with his stroke making, and yet the feeling that a message was sent to tell him to calm down doesn’t work for certain players, I guess," Karthik said.

Pant’s innings was a key part of India’s imposing total of 471 runs, including a 209-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Despite the dismissal, Pant’s performance was historic as he surpassed MS Dhoni to become the Indian wicketkeeper with the most Test centuries.

"Pant lit up Headingley on Saturday with a stunning century in the first Test of the five-match England series... The century was especially special, as Pant overtook MS Dhoni to be the Indian wicketkeeper who has achieved the most Test tons," one report noted.

The debate over coaching influence highlights the delicate balance between player instinct and strategic direction in high-stakes cricket matches.

Pant’s dismissal sparked discussions on whether external coaching messages can sometimes hinder a player’s natural game, especially for aggressive batsmen like him.

This incident adds to the ongoing conversation about the role of coaching during live matches and its impact on player performance.

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik questioned coach Gautam Gambhir’s tactics after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal in the Leeds Test, suggesting coaching instructions may have curtailed Pant’s natural aggressive style. Pant scored a brilliant 134 but was dismissed following a message to calm down, impacting his stroke play.