Is Rishabh Pant an opener? Pietersen raised questions, said – he is hitting his own feet with an ax

Mumbai. Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has raised questions on Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant's ability as a top-order batsman. Pietersen said that by playing in the top three, the Indian wicket-keeper batsman is putting pressure on himself instead of enjoying his game. Pant came to play as an opener in the IPL match against Delhi Capitals and was run out after scoring only seven runs. Delhi won this match by six wickets.

After the Lucknow defeat, Pant had said that he was planning to play in the top order this season but Pietersen said that this would prevent him from enjoying his game. Pietersen told Geo Hotstar, “When you look at the batting strength and depth of the Lucknow team, then the question arises whether Rishabh Pant is really an opening batsman. I think he has been moved a little higher up the batting order this year compared to last year.

The England captain said, 'Last year he decided to play lower in the batting order and now he is suddenly saying that 'I will bat at the top of the order.' I think they should just go on the field and enjoy their game. Pietersen said that Pant is putting more pressure on himself by coming up the batting order.

He said, 'Don't force yourself to bat at number three, enjoy that position. I think Pant is putting pressure on himself by playing as an opening batsman. Pietersen, who was a member of the coaching staff of Delhi Capitals till last season, praised Sameer Rizvi, who played an important role in his team's victory by scoring an unbeaten half-century.

Pietersen said, 'He handled the situation very well and I was not surprised by it. I spent a lot of time with Sameer last season and observed his skills closely. He then scored a century in the practice match but unfortunately he did not get a chance to play in the initial phase of the tournament.