Keep your eyes away from Rishabh Pant: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma

India's Rishabh Pant hasn't found the going easy of-late. Slammed for his "reckless" batting approach and "below-par" wicketkeeping skills, the youngster has often caught the ire of the fans on several occasions recently.

While it was his performance with the bat that gave raise to criticism in the first T20I, it was his glove-work behind the stumps that irked the critics in the second T20I at Rajkot.

Taking note of the scrutiny that Pant is being placed under, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has come out in support of the youngster. Speaking on the eve of the third T20I against Bangladesh, Sharma requested the critics to leave Pant alone for some time.

"There's a lot of talk around Rishabh Pant. It is not fair. I just feel he needs to be allowed to do what he wants to do on the field. I would request everyone to keep your eyes away from Rishabh Pant for a while. He's just a young guy who is trying to make a mark in international cricket," Sharma said while addressing the press in Nagpur.

Stating that every move Pant makes on the field has been drawing people's attention, the Indian skipper said that the young wicketkeeper-batsman has been trying to do whatever the team management has been asking for. "He's a very fearless cricketer and we want him to have that freedom. And if you guys (critics) keep your eyes away from him for a while, it'll allow him to perform better," Sharma added.

India take on Bangladesh in the series decider at Nagpur on Sunday, 10 November. The game will provide Pant with a chance to prove his mettle and thereby, silence the critics.