Former Indian World Cup champion, Yuvraj Singh, has shared that his mentee, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, is focused on enhancing his performance in white-ball cricket and making a comeback to the Indian team.
Pant’s last appearance for India in white-ball cricket was during the team’s tour to Sri Lanka in August 2024, where he featured in three matches, scoring a total of 57 runs, with a significant portion coming in the T20I series.
Although Pant was part of the 2025 Champions Trophy-winning squad, he did not get any playing time as KL Rahul was preferred as the primary wicketkeeper-batsman.
In a podcast with Sports Tak, Yuvraj mentioned, “He is determined to progress in his cricketing journey, deliver strong performances, and earn a spot back in white-ball cricket.”
Recently, Pant, who holds the record for being the most expensive buy in Indian Premier League history, was spotted training with Yuvraj in Mumbai to refine his batting skills and mindset.
Yuvraj expressed his confidence in Pant’s improvement, stating, “By providing him with mental support, I believe he can elevate his game. I can already see positive changes in him, and this upcoming IPL season will showcase a different Rishabh Pant.”
Yuvraj, renowned for his exceptional performance in the 2011 ICC World Cup, has been a guiding force for several contemporary Indian cricketers, including Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, and star batsmen Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. He emphasized the importance of communicating with his mentees to understand their mental state better.
Regarding Pant, Yuvraj revealed that spending 3–4 days discussing cricket with him has been beneficial.
Known for his struggles in white-ball cricket, Pant managed only one century and a half-century as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants in the previous season. Despite an average of 24.45 and a strike rate exceeding 133, Pant’s performance was not consistent. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he contributed 171 runs in 8 innings at an average of 24.42 and a strike rate of 127.61.
Pant is set to return to action in the IPL against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5.