'Pant needs to find the right balance between scoring at brisk rate and playing responsibly' - Sehwag

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag believes that Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant needs to balance scoring at a brisk rate and playing responsibly.

Sehwag made his observations on the enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter on Cricbuzz Live ahead of DC’s all-important clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The left-handed batter has played with intent this season, scoring 234 runs at a strike rate of 149.04, but the problem is that he hasn’t been able to stay long enough to see his side through, especially during a run-chase.

“Yes, Pant should play with a bit of responsibility. But when he does that, the strike rate falls. On the other hand, when he is playing freely, he gets out. He needs to find the right balance wherein he is able to play freely while batting till the end. Pant must not carry any baggage and play like the Pant of old. A run-a-ball 40 doesn’t suit Pant and doesn’t take the team anywhere."

Delhi are languishing at the seventh spot in the points after having registered more defeats than victories in their nine outings so far.

One of the major reasons for that, apart from their middle-order, is the inconsistency in their bowling performances.

Sehwag pointed out the same while adding that the likes of Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel aren’t competing for their quota of four overs. He also reckoned that the current bowling combination ain’t working for the 2020 runners-up.

“DC’s bowling is not clicking. Shardul and Axar are not able to bowl their four overs. Is this the right combination? (Anrich) Nortje is not fit. Earlier, they had Nortje and (Kagiso) Rabada doing the job. They need to set their combination right. Don’t think the current one is working.”

Meanwhile, the Capitals have made as many as four changes to their playing XI for the encounter against SRH.

Mandeep Singh, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed and Ripal Patel have been included in the starting XI ahead of Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, Mustafizur Rahman and Chetan Sakariya.

They will bat first, and the onus will once again be on the trio of David Warner, Pant and Mitchell Marsh to get their side to a big total.