Exclusive: If you're true in your heart, there's nothing to be scared of, says Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant speaks to TOI about making clearer decisions, being calmer, embracing his high-risk game and aspirationsDUBAI: Scan the videos the BCCI social media handle puts out on Rishabh Pant's training and you will only find balls flying in the air off his bat. That his game is built around a strong defensive technique is lost in the anonymity of the regular training sessions. "I have got used to the fact that there will be harsh criticism even if I get a hundred in one innings and get out cheaply in the next one," Pant told TOI with a sheepish smile as he got ready for the Asia Cup. He is aware that his reputation of being a more-brash-than-carefree cricketer precedes him wherever he goes. Nobody in Indian cricket has had to endure as much criticism as he has done. Every praise in the surfeit of analysis comes with a disclaimer how he needs to reign himself in. Yet, he has emerged as India's most consistent batter in at least two formats. One would have to dig really hard into his archives to find instances where bowlers could breach his defence. His dismissals have invariably come to aggressive shots.

"I understand when I get out, it might look ugly. It doesn't mean it never pinches me. But I have learnt to embrace the fact that I play a high-risk-high-reward game," Pant says. He has a theory about dealing with the incessant dissection of his approach to the game. "I learn from my dismissals. But I also give myself more space now. There's a reason I could taste some success at this level. You will not succeed every day. But you need to work towards making sure your game is working 70-80 per cent of the time. "If you are true in your heart, then there's nothing to be scared of because eventually things will fall in