IPL 2025: Pujara Criticizes Pant's DRS Decisions and Batting Performance

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] April 23: Cheteshwar Pujara, the veteran Indian cricketer, recently shared his thoughts about Rishabh Pant's performance, particularly regarding DRS decisions. Pujara revealed that Pant often struggles to judge the ball's trajectory, leading to poor DRS calls. Despite having multiple conversations with Pant on this issue, Pujara stated that the wicketkeeper-batsman remains "clueless" about the direction of the ball, especially during Tests. This honest assessment comes after Pant's controversial decision to take DRS in a recent match against Delhi Capitals, which proved to be a wrong call.

Pant's DRS Blunder in the Match Against Delhi Capitals

During the match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant's DRS decision was questioned after a blatant blunder. On the last ball of the seventh over, young bowler Digvesh Kumar appealed for an LBW against KL Rahul, but the on-field umpire rejected it. Pant, in agreement with his bowler, decided to go for the DRS. However, the replay clearly showed that the ball was pitching outside the off-stump, proving the decision to be incorrect. This added to the growing pressure on Pant’s leadership and decision-making skills.

Pujara’s Critique of Pant’s Leadership

Pujara did not hold back when it came to criticizing Pant’s leadership and decision-making. Having spent considerable time with Pant in the Indian team, Pujara mentioned that the wicketkeeper’s inability to read the ball's trajectory often leads to incorrect DRS calls. Pujara, who has years of experience, pointed out that Pant's judgments often don't align with what the team expects from him. He further noted that Pant’s struggles in DRS decisions are a recurring issue that he has discussed with him multiple times over the years.

Pant's Batting Struggles Continue in LSG’s Inconsistent Season

Rishabh Pant’s batting woes have also added to his troubles. In the recent match against Delhi Capitals, Pant came in at number 7 but was dismissed for a duck, leaving his team in a difficult position. His batting form has been inconsistent throughout the season, which has led to more scrutiny of his performance. Pant’s inability to capitalize on important moments has weighed heavily on his team, as Lucknow Super Giants failed to put up a competitive total, finishing at 159/6, far below what was expected.

Pant’s Effort to Clarify His Batting Strategy

Despite his struggles, Pant explained his batting strategy after the match. He mentioned that sending Samad to capitalize on the wicket was part of the plan to gain momentum. However, the conditions didn’t allow them to score freely, and the team fell short. Pant acknowledged the need for a better combination to handle tricky situations in the future. While Pant's leadership is under scrutiny, he remains focused on finding the right balance and combination for his team in upcoming matches.