Rishabh Pant, the dashing left-handed wicket-keeper should be the preferred wicketkeeping choice in Team India according to former cricketers Ashish Nehra and Sanjay Bangar who have backed him to succeed MS Dhoni.
The young wicketkeeper-batsman has the complete backing of veteran cricketers Sanjay Bangar and Ashish Nehra to take over the wicketkeeping reins from former captain MS Dhoni. His international batting form had lead to the management replacing him with the versatile KL Rahul. But if India are looking for a permanent wicketkeeper then according to Sanjay Bangar and Ashish Nehra, there’s no better choice than the 23-year-old.
Rishabh Pant Should Be Backed If India Wants To Go With Best Wicket Keeper: Former Pacer Ashish Nehra
So far, in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has amassed 171 runs, averaging 42.75 at a strike rate of 139.02.
“It totally depends on which format we are talking about. If we are talking about Test cricket, and if you want to go with the best wicket-keeper then you also have to consider the mindset of the captain and coach.
“I am in total agreement with Sanjay Bangar, I think they should go ahead with Rishabh Pant. Pant should be backed! Every player needs to be backed when it comes to international cricket,” former India pacer Nehra said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.
Rishabh Pant has so far played 59 matches where he scored 1907 runs averaging 36.67. He has scored 1 IPL century as well. In 13 Tests he averages 38.76 while in 16 ODIs and 27 T20Is his average drops to 26.71 and 20.5 respectively.
Rishabh Pant Is A Left Hander Which Is An Added Advantage: Sanjay Bangar
Former Indian team’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar, too, shed light on the prospect of Rishabh Pant succeeding retired MS Dhoni.
“In terms of wicket-keeping, I think it would be Rishabh Pant. I think the way he started this year’s IPL and I think it is very important to have a left-hander as an option because for Team India when it comes to the middle order it helps to balance out the right-handers,” Bangar said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.
Shreyas Iyer’s Delhi Capitals, who are currently table toppers in this season with 4 wins out of 5 outings, will play their next IPL 2020 game against the Rajasthan Royals on October 9 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Rishabh Pant is an important member of the Delhi Capitals team. Interestingly, both Rishabh Pant and competitor Sanju Samson who plays for Rajasthan has scored 171 runs averaging 42.75. KL Rahul is leading run-scorer with 302 runs.