Jaffer says Pant needs to work on rotating the strike more effectively

Jaffer: Pant Must Improve Strike Rotation to Maximise Impact

Despite a promising return to form with a 49-ball 63 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant came under scrutiny for his inability to rotate the strike effectively — a flaw that continues to impact his overall batting rhythm in IPL 2025.

Coming into the match, Pant had managed just 40 runs off 50 deliveries across five innings. Monday’s knock, though his highest of the season, was a mixed bag. After a brisk start — racing to 27 off 16 balls — Pant lost momentum and was crawling at 38 off 38 at one stage. His struggles were most apparent against left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad, from whom he managed only six runs in 15 deliveries, including 10 dot balls.

In total, Pant played 21 dot balls in his innings. For context, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 62 off 45 against Rajasthan Royals the previous day featured only nine. Pant’s dot-ball percentage in the tournament now stands at a concerning 48.48 — the highest among batters who have faced at least 50 balls this season. With boundary-hitting opportunities also proving inconsistent, his strike rate has dipped to 104.04.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer weighed in on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut, saying Pant must focus on better strike rotation to maintain pressure on the opposition.

“I don’t know whether he even looks to do that [rotate strike],” Jaffer said. “Kohli is a master at it — he gets off strike so naturally because he can play all around. But Pant tends to get stuck, and that’s when he goes for the big shot. He really needs to get better at strike rotation.”

Jaffer also pointed out a tendency in Pant’s shot selection that limits his scoring avenues — particularly his over-reliance on the leg side.

“I feel he rarely looks to hit straight,” Jaffer added. “It’s usually towards square leg or cow corner. He hit one six straight towards the end [against CSK], but throughout the innings, his intent was leg-side dominant — or the reverse scoop. Teams are beginning to stack that side, so he needs to start accessing the straight boundaries more consistently.”

On the same show, Abhinav Mukund echoed similar sentiments but noted that Pant looks more dangerous when he’s mobile at the crease.

“I still feel Pant has so much to offer when he's moving around. Contrary to what many say about staying still, I prefer the version of Pant that’s more proactive. Today, it felt like that cover region was shut off for him — and that’s a bit concerning.”

While Pant’s half-century may mark a turning point in his campaign, both former cricketers agree that subtle tweaks in approach — particularly in strike rotation and shot selection — could elevate him back to his best.

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