Ind vs Eng Tests: Sachin Tendulkar gives success mantra to Rishabh Pant

Team India started a new cycle of the World Test Championship by taking on England in the first Test at Leeds on Friday.

With two veterans and legends of the game- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, retiring from the longest format of the game, the onus will be on a younger Indian team aiming to make its mark in Test cricket. While Shubman Gill leads the side for the first time, aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be his deputy.

Pant will continue to bat at the crucial No. 5 position in the Test side. However, with added leadership duties, the spotlight on his temperament and approach has been intensified. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, long known for his fearless strokeplay, now faces growing calls for maturity, especially in light of the criticism he faced during the Auatralia tour.

Several fans and many experts have criticised Pant for throwing away his wickets. In response, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has now stressed the need for Pant to evolve. Though Sachin encouraged Pant to back his instincts, he also stressed that the southpaw must bat with greater responsibility if he is to fulfil his potential in the longest format.

"Pant should back his instincts most of the time. But there'll be situations where he'll have to curb his game in the interests of the team," said Tendulkar.

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"I know that whatever he does the rest of the time will also be in the interest of the team, but the approach might have to be different. He has to have that flexibility in his mind. If there are times when you're looking to save the game, then he may have to adapt that defensive approach, for let's say an hour or 45 minutes or sometimes two hours, where he'll have to just take those risky shots out of the game and not be as aggressive. He could be positive, but the shot selection will come into play," the Master Blaster added.