IPL 2022: Rishabh Pant should bat in the 'Russell' mode; just smack, no matter who the bowlers is, says Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri says Rishabh Pant must bat in the "Andre Russell mode" in T20 format and not change the tempo once he gets going so that he can win more matches for his side, Delhi Capitals. The Southpaw has collected 281 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 152.71 but has struggled to convert his starts into meaningful contributions. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is having an underwhelming IPL season. He has shown glimpses of his destructive power but could not take the team over the line like he has done umpteen times in the past. "I feel once he gets the tempo going he shouldn't change, he should be in the 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 Russell, one the most destructive batters in T20 cricket, apart from the other is the clarity of mindest, 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."

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