India's Rishabh Pant comes down for the batting during the second day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Sachin Tendulkar has urged the Indian team management to leave swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant alone, while also explaining the method behind the southpaw's often-debated shot selection. "The sweep shot that he played—he likes to get under the ball to scoop it with some elevation," Tendulkar said during a Reddit interaction.

How and why Rishabh Pant's England tour could come to an abrupt end due to toe fracture

"People think he has fallen, but it's intentional so that he can get under the ball. The secret to playing those shots is being able to get underneath the ball.

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Should the Indian team management allow Rishabh Pant to play his natural game without interference?

Yes, he knows best how to play. No, he needs guidance.

"So it's a planned fall; he doesn't lose balance. All of it depends on the length of the ball. "There have been occasions when people felt he didn't need to play that shot, or that it wasn't the right time—but someone like Rishabh should be left alone.

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"When he's looking to save a match, though, he has to adopt a different approach—like in the last 15–20 overs of a game. But he's figured out how to approach an innings depending on the match situation," Tendulkar added. Tendulkar had earlier hailed Pant's heroic fifty at Old Trafford, scored while batting with an injured foot on the second day of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Pant's courage was on full display when he hobbled out to bat on Day 2 of the Manchester Test, after suffering a blow to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot on the opening day. He received a rousing standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd as he limped to the crease following Shardul Thakur's dismissal for 41. Despite being in clear discomfort and struggling to complete singles, Pant fought through the pain to score a gritty 54, helping India reach a total of 358 before being dismissed.

Sachin Tendulkar on Rishabh Pant

Tendulkar praised the effort in a post on X: "Resilience is about playing through pain and rising above it. @RishabhPant17 showed tremendous character by walking back into the game with an injury and delivering a performance like that. His fifty is a powerful reminder of the grit and determination it takes to represent your country. A brave effort, and one that will be remembered for a long time. Well played, Rishabh."

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