We never advise Rishabh how he should play: Bowling coach Mhambrey
India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey on Tuesday said the team management would never advise Rishabh Pant to change his natural attacking game as he is aware of his role and the expectations placed on him. Pant, one of the most aggressive players of the current generation, has scored five Test centuries and 10 half-centuries in 31 matches. He has scored centuries against teams like England, Australia and South Africa. Pant was seen batting aggressively in the nets on Tuesday ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh starting on Wednesday, prompting Mhambrey to question the left-handed wicket-keeper batsman’s attitude.
Mhambrey said in the pre-match press conference, “We have not had any specific discussion with Rishabh. It’s his way of playing and we know it. Nothing has changed, he prepares in the same way for any format. He knows his role in the team. “We never talk about how he plays because he knows what the team expects from him,” he added. The Indian team will go with three spinners or prefer three fast bowlers but he is happy that experienced fast bowler Umesh Yadav is leading the Indian pace attack.
Mhambre said, “Umesh is a very experienced bowler. We all know what Umesh can do. Unfortunately, he did not get many chances because we had Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj playing in England. “He said,” The team management has spoken to him and discussed. We are in the clear as far as Umesh is concerned. The other way I look at it is he will lead the attack and he has got a lot of experience. I am also happy with the way Siraj has progressed in Test cricket. I am happy that he has done well.
The former India fast bowler admitted that Bumrah and Shami will be missed. “Bumrah and Shami will be missed but we are looking at this as an opportunity for other players to play Test cricket and do well for the country,” Mhambrey said. After months of consistent white-ball cricket, adjusting to the red-ball format will be crucial. He said, “We are playing Test cricket after a long time, this mental change takes some time. You have just come from T20 World Cup in Australia and now it is a different format. Siraj (ODIs), Umesh (India A) have played a lot of cricket. As far as A series is concerned, Navdeep Saini has also played a lot of cricket.
