“Rishabh Pant is overweight” – Danish Kaneria slams Indian wicketkeeper for his fitness

Danish Kaneria, Rishabh Pant
Danish Kaneria, Rishabh Pant (Image Credits: Twitter)
Danish Kaneria, Rishabh Pant
Danish Kaneria, Rishabh Pant (Image Credits: Twitter)

The former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has bashed Rishabh Pant over his fitness and termed the Indian wicketkeeper-batter ‘overweight’. Pant is currently leading the Indian team in the T20I series against South Africa but he is having a horror show with the bat.

The left-handed southpaw has only scored 57 runs in 4 matches at a miserable strike rate of 105.55. Currently, the series is levelled at 2-2 after four games as India defeated the Proteas by 82 runs in the 4th game at Rajkot. Now, both teams will meet in the final on Sunday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Ahead of the final, former Pakistan spinner Kaneria has raised questions over Rishabh’s fitness amid his terrible form.

“Is he 100 per cent fit?” – Danish Kaneria raises serious questions over Rishabh Pant’s fitness

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, the former leggie pointed out the shortcomings in Rishabh Pant’s wicketkeeping. The former Pakistan player has opined that Pant doesn’t squat lower while keeping behind the stumps and he is overweight.

“I want to talk about Pant’s wicketkeeping. I’ve noticed one thing – he doesn’t squat lower and sit on his toes when a fast bowler is bowling. Seems like he is overweight and being bulky doesn’t give him that much time to come up quickly. It raises concern over his fitness,” said Danish Kaneria.

“Is he 100 per cent fit? But when it comes to his captain, bowlers and batters including Hardik and Karthik have supported him well. Pant also has a chance to become the first captain to win a T20 series against South Africa,” further added the former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria.

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Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant’s place might be in danger when the senior players return to a full-strength squad. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik seems to have moved ahead of Pant, given the latter’s red-hot current form with the bat.