Mumbai: Former World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has revealed that his protégé Rishabh Pant is determined to overcome his struggles in white-ball cricket and make a strong return to India's limited-overs setup.
Pant, who has been working closely with Yuvraj in recent weeks, is focusing on improving both his batting consistency and mental approach ahead of upcoming tournaments, including the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rishabh Pant last featured in white-ball cricket for India in August 2024 during the tour of Sri Lanka. He played only three matches in the ODI and T20I series, scoring a total of 57 runs, with 51 runs coming in the T20I format.
Despite being part of India's squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Pant did not get an opportunity to play a single match. KL Rahul was preferred as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter throughout the tournament.
These performances and selection decisions have kept Pant out of regular white-ball contention, even as he continues to remain a key player in other formats.
Speaking about Pant's mindset, Yuvraj Singh said the young wicketkeeper is eager to improve and return stronger.
'He is someone who wants to move forward with his cricket and do better. He wants to perform and get back into white-ball cricket,' Yuvraj said during a podcast interaction.
Pant was seen training with Yuvraj in Mumbai in March, where the former cricketer focused on mentoring him both technically and mentally.
Yuvraj emphasised that mental conditioning plays a crucial role in a player's comeback. 'If I can push him mentally, then I believe he will be in a better space,' he said, adding that fans could expect a different version of Pant in the upcoming IPL season.
Yuvraj Singh, who played a pivotal role in India's 2011 ICC World Cup triumph, has been mentoring several young Indian cricketers. Among those he has guided are Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson.
He believes that spending time understanding a player's mindset is key to unlocking performance improvements. In Pant's case, Yuvraj said he spent three to four days discussing his approach and helping him rebuild confidence.
Pant's recent white-ball performances reflect inconsistency. During the last IPL season, where he captained the Lucknow Super Giants, he managed one century and one half-century, maintaining a strike rate above 133 but an average of 24.45.
In the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, he scored 171 runs in eight innings, with an average of 24.42 and a strike rate of 127.61—numbers that indicate flashes of brilliance but lack of sustained impact.
Pant is expected to return to action in the IPL, with his next match scheduled against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5. The tournament presents a crucial opportunity for him to showcase improvements and push for a comeback into India's white-ball squads.
Strong performances in the IPL could significantly influence selectors' decisions ahead of upcoming international assignments.
As Rishabh Pant works on refining his game under the mentorship of Yuvraj Singh, the focus remains on consistency and mental resilience. With the IPL serving as a key platform, Pant will be aiming to make a compelling case for his return to India's white-ball setup.