Rishabh Pant has been under plenty of discussion recently, particularly over his batting approach and the way he gets out in Test cricket. Even before the Sri Lanka series, questions were being raised over whether Pant was getting stuck at the crease, playing too many dot balls and not rotating the strike enough.

However, when you look at Pant’s overall performances, the criticism needs some balance. Apart from his failures in the two Tests against South Africa, Pant has regularly made important contributions for India in Test cricket.

Despite that, his batting approach and dismissals continue to attract attention.

Now, Pant has given an interesting reply to Yuvraj Singh after the former India all-rounder advised him to convert his starts into bigger scores. And one particular part of Pant’s response has raised another question: Did Rishabh Pant take aim at Gautam Gambhir without actually naming him?

Yuvraj Singh Warns Rishabh Pant After Missing 50 and 100

Yuvraj Singh has been working with several Indian cricketers in recent years and his way of mentoring players is quite different.

He does not only praise players. He advises them, points out their mistakes and can be strict when required.

We have already seen his influence on players like Abhishek Sharma. Yuvraj has spent plenty of time working with young players and helping them improve their batting.

Now, his attention appears to be on Rishabh Pant.

Pant missed out on a half-century after getting out for 39 in the first innings against Sri Lanka. He then made 66 in the second innings but once again failed to convert his start into a bigger score.

Yuvraj reacted to Pant’s performance on social media.

He first praised Pant by calling him a quality player, but his message was also clear: after missing a fifty and then a hundred, Pant needed to be more careful when approaching these milestones.

The message came from someone who clearly wants Pant to convert his starts into bigger innings.

Rishabh Pant’s Reply to Yuvraj Singh Gets Attention

Pant’s response to Yuvraj was even more interesting.

He replied:

The message was simple.

Pant had scored 39 and then 66. He was saying that these were small steps towards the bigger innings he believes is coming.

However, the second part of his response is what deserves attention.

Pant said he is now trying to get better with his numbersbecause that was not something he had played for earlier.

And this is where the Gautam Gambhir angle comes into the discussion.

Rishabh Pant on Gautam Gambhir: What Did Pant Actually Say?

There is no direct evidence that Pant was talking about Gautam Gambhir. He did not name Gambhir and did not directly criticise the Indian head coach.

However, Pant’s words can certainly be looked at in the context of the discussion around his batting.

For a long time, Pant’s biggest strength has been his impact. He has never looked like a batter who changes his game simply because he is approaching 50 or 100.

If Pant is batting on 39 and gets a ball in his hitting zone, he will generally go for it. His thinking has mostly been about what the team needs at that moment rather than protecting a personal milestone.

That is what has made him such a dangerous Test batter.

However, questions are now being raised about his numbers and the way he gets dismissed.

So when Pant himself says that he is now also focusing on improving his numbers because he “never played for this”, it naturally creates an interesting discussion.

Was it simply a reply to Yuvraj? Most probably.

Could it also be an indirect response to those questioning his approach? That interpretation cannot be completely ignored.

But claiming that Pant definitely targeted Gambhir would be going beyond what he actually said.

Pant Has Always Played for Impact

Pant’s point about not playing for numbers also matches the way he has approached Test cricket throughout his career.

He has always tried to leave an impact on the game.

Personal milestones have rarely changed his approach. If the situation demands attacking cricket, Pant normally attacks.

That is why he has sometimes been dismissed on 30, 40, 80 or even close to a century while attempting an aggressive shot.

People naturally question those dismissals.

But the same approach has also produced some of India’s most memorable Test innings.

Pant can change the direction of a match very quickly. He can put pressure on the opposition bowlers, force the captain to change his field and completely change the momentum of an innings.

That impact cannot simply be ignored because of the way he occasionally gets out.

Why Is Pant’s Batting Approach Being Questioned?

This is perhaps the biggest question.

Pant’s dismissals deserve criticism whenever he makes a clear mistake. No player should be beyond criticism.

But there needs to be a balance.

If a player has consistently made important runs and created an impact for the team, his entire contribution should be considered rather than judging him only on one particular dismissal.

Gambhir has spoken about Pant’s batting approach and the importance of understanding the match situation and conditions.

Again, there is nothing wrong with that advice.

The question is whether Pant should completely change the approach that has made him successful in Test cricket.

The answer should probably be no.

Pant needs better control at certain moments, but taking away his natural attacking instinct could also take away his biggest strength.

Yuvraj Singh’s Advice Could Be Important for Pant

This is where Yuvraj’s advice becomes important.

Yuvraj is not asking Pant to stop attacking.

The message appears to be much simpler: when you have already reached 39, be slightly more careful and get to 50. When you are batting on 66 and looking comfortable, give yourself the opportunity to reach 100.

That does not mean Pant has to completely change his game.

It simply means understanding when to take the risk and when to wait for another opportunity.

Yuvraj has done similar work with other players. Abhishek Sharma is one of the biggest examples of his mentoring.

Yuvraj praises players when they perform, but he also tells them where they can improve. That appears to be exactly what he has done with Pant.

Does Pant Deserve More Support?

Pant has already contributed a lot to Indian Test cricket.

His impact as a wicketkeeper-batter is difficult to ignore. There have been several occasions when his aggressive batting has changed the direction of a Test match.

That is why the discussion around him needs to remain cricket-based.

There is no evidence to suggest that Gambhir or the Indian team management are trying to push Pant out of the setup. Similarly, there is no evidence that Pant has a personal problem with Gambhir.

But there is clearly a debate around his batting approach.

Pant appears to have noticed that as well.

His response to Yuvraj suggests that he is now thinking about the numbers too. He still wants to create an impact, but perhaps he also understands that converting those starts will reduce many of the questions being asked about him.

Pant’s Bat Could Provide the Best Answer

Ultimately, Pant does not need to answer every criticism through social media.

His bat can do that.

He scored 39 and then followed it with 66. As Pant himself indicated, these could be “baby steps” towards the big innings.

The interesting part is that he now seems determined to improve his numbers without losing the approach that has made him such an important Test batter for India.

So, did Rishabh Pant take aim at Gautam Gambhir after Yuvraj Singh’s warning?

There is no direct evidence to say yes.

However, his remark that he is now trying to improve his numbers because he had never played for them before certainly becomes interesting when viewed alongside the recent criticism of his batting approach.

Whether that message was meant for Gambhir or simply for everyone questioning his numbers, only Pant knows.

But one thing is clear: Pant has heard the discussion, and now he wants the bigger scores to speak for him.