Sehwag Urges Pant to ‘Call MS Dhoni’; Pollock Questions, ‘Is He Missing Something?’

Rishabh Pant’s return to the IPL was supposed to be a story of redemption and resilience. Instead, it’s become a season of struggle. With just 128 runs in 11 innings for the Lucknow Super Giants, Pant—who was bought for a record ₹27 crore—is facing the toughest phase of his IPL career. His latest outing, a sluggish 18 off 17 balls in a loss to Punjab Kings, only deepened concerns.

Cricket legend Virender Sehwag, known for his no-nonsense approach, believes Pant needs to reset—mentally and technically. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag advised the young captain to go back to what once made him successful.

“I think Rishabh should watch his old IPL innings—the ones where he played freely and dominated bowlers. That can remind him of who he really is,” Sehwag said. “This version of Rishabh feels very different from the one before his injury.”

Sehwag also shared a personal anecdote. “Back in 2006–07, I was struggling and got dropped. Rahul Dravid told me to check if I had changed anything in my routine. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things—when those change, the runs stop coming.”

But perhaps the most heartfelt advice from Sehwag was simple: just talk to someone. “He has a phone—he should pick it up and call Dhoni. That one call might make a difference. MS is his idol, and sometimes just speaking to someone who understands you can lift a huge burden.”

Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock echoed the concern, though he approached it from a more emotional angle. Pollock suggested that Pant might be feeling isolated in a squad that lacks his usual Indian teammates.

“Maybe he’s missing that sense of belonging. He’s surrounded by international players, and perhaps there’s no one he can really connect with on a personal level,” Pollock said. “You can see it in his body language—he doesn’t look like the Rishabh Pant we’re used to.”

With just a few games left, the pressure is mounting—not just on Pant, but on the Super Giants’ playoff hopes. Their next match is against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 9, and fans will be hoping the real Rishabh Pant shows up.

Amit Singh
Amit Singh - Media Professional & Co-Founder, Illustrated Daily News | 15+ years of experience | Journalism | Media Expertise  
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