"In The Russell Mould...": Ravi Shastri Has This Advice For Rishabh Pant To Revive Delhi Capitals' Fortune

Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Rishabh Pant has not been able to capitalise on the good starts that he has got in the IPL 2022. The left-handed batter has scored 281 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 152.71. Though he is DC's second highest run-getter, he has not been able to score a half-century. His scores have mostly remained limited to the mid-20s and mid-30s. His performance has reflected in DC's show too. The franchise has won five of their 11 matches and are fifth in the points table.

With race for the play-offs heating up, the Pant-led DC need to pull up their socks starting from their match against the third-placed Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. Former Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has a word of advice for the 24-year-old Pant.

"I feel once he gets the tempo going he shouldn't change, he should be in the (Andre) Russell mould in this format of the game," Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo's 'T20 Time Out'.

"You get your eye in, you're striking it well - don't think too much. No matter who the bowler is, if it's there to be smacked, smack it. Who knows, you might win more matches than people expect you to."

Shastri feels what sets Andre Rusell, one the most destructive batters in T20 cricket, apart from the other is the clarity of mindset, which will also serve Pant, who is capable of playing belligerent knocks, well.

"Russell is very, very clear in his mindset. It is bang-bang-bang once he's in the mood. There's no stopping him, there's not even a negative thought that will peep through his system - it is (all about) smacking.

"Rishabh is totally capable of playing in that fashion, and I hope he thinks in that way because you'll see some special innings from him in T20 cricket. He's getting off to