Indian Cricket management likely to keep all-format option open for Rishabh Pant, shouldn't they keep him for red-ball only until WTC 2023-25?
When Rishabh Pant made his first international appearance, he was supposed to be India’s future star in white-ball cricket. Even though he has been decent in the limited-overs format, his record in the red-ball games shows his value. He is the only India wicketkeeper to celebrate Test centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa.
Pant is young and dynamic, and his style of play is refreshingly entertaining. Because he did well towards the early part of his Test career, the Uttarakhand-born got a long run in the format.
India needed his replacement when he was out of action due to an unfortunate accident. It was hard to get a quick substitution of India’s blue-eyed boy in the longest format. However, they prepared KL Rahul for the 50-over format in an ODI World Cup year in 2023.
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Once Pant returned to action in the shortest format through the IPL 2024, the only desire was to see him scoring runs. The selection committee decided to go with him in the recent T20 World Cup 2024. Now, the question stands: Should India preserve him for the longest format and look for other options in white-ball cricket?
Aggressive Rishabh Pant cracks Test cricket rapidly
At the age of only 26, Rishabh Pant has already been part of 33 Test matches for India. This too has come on the back of him losing more than a year with injury. In this period, there were several instances where India realised his absence, not only with the bat but also behind the stumps.
In a recent press conference, the chairman of the BCCI selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, touched on the wicketkeeper batter. On being asked about Rishabh Pant’s selection in India’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, Agarkar shared his point of view.
‘Rishabh has been out for a long time. So we want to bring him back without burdening him. Someone who has come back after a long time, you need to bring them back in the scheme of things gradually,’ the former India all-rounder expressed to the reporters.
In 56 Test innings, the left-handed explosive batter has smashed 2271 runs at an average of 43.87. The strike rate is around 75, which is quite aggressive against the red ball. He has already notched up 11 half-centuries and five centuries.
India are playing five Tests in their home summer before making their trip to Australia for the five-match Test series. In the last away Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21, Rishabh was India’s highest run-getter with 274 runs. Both his fifties in Sydney and Brisbane are quite special and memorable in Indian cricket.
Agarkar mentioned not putting much burden on Pant’s shoulders. In that case, it could be wise for the management to keep him fresh for the all-important Test series. It will be interesting to see if the Delhi batter, in this newer version, still shows the same aggression in the longest format.
Gautam Gambhir’s past statement on Pant’s white-ball future
It was the last week of the year 2022, just a few days before Pant met with the fatal accident. The India selectors didn’t pick the wicketkeeper for the home series against Sri Lanka in the limited-overs format. On being asked about the exclusion, it was told that he had been sent to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for strength and conditioning training.
Pant’s performance in white-ball cricket wasn’t as convincing as his red-ball form. In 2022, he cracked only 364 T20I runs in 21 innings at a strike rate of 132.84. In the case of ODIs, the wicketkeeper nailed 336 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 96.55.
By then, Gautam Gambhir was an expert on Star Sports. Speaking on the Delhi batter’s exclusion, the retired opening batter felt that Pant’s white-ball numbers were poor.
That’s why he’s not part of both squads. His white-ball numbers are not that great as compared to his Test numbers.’ The current India head coach commented in 2022. ‘Probably, Rishabh will have to wait for his opportunity if he gets that chance in white-ball cricket. At the moment, he should focus on red-ball cricket.’
‘The management has tried every possible way for him to succeed or given him the platform to be so in white-ball cricket, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.’ He further added during the interaction.
Since making his ODI debut in 2018, Pant has featured in only 30 ODIs. His 865 runs at an average of 34.60 display his struggle in the middle order. Even in the shortest format, his average of under 23 for 1158 runs isn’t quite satisfactory for the selection committee.
Probable options for India in white-ball formats
Rishabh’s selection in the upcoming Sri Lanka series perhaps could be an indication that India may provide him with a few more chances in the formats. If he doesn’t get quick success, the selectors may look beyond him and give others more opportunities.
Sanju Samson has nailed 510 runs in just 14 innings, at an average of 56.66. His strike rate of nearly 100 is quite impressive too. If the Blue Brigade plan for a left-hander, then they could go for Ishan Kishan. The Jharkhand-born has 933 runs in 24 ODIs, at a strike rate of over 100.
Dhruv Jurel could be another option for them, along with Jitesh Sharma in the shortest format. It will be interesting to see how the selection pans out in the future. All of these depend on how Rishabh Pant performs in Sri Lanka.
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