The Indian youngster Rishabh Pant has only a few opportunities to seal his spot for the upcoming World Cup. Though he failed in the recent Wellington T20I, the legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar doesn’t lose his hope yet to see the youngster in the upcoming World Cup squad.
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is less than four months away to begin. England and Wales will organise the tournament from 30 May to 14 July. Apart from a few numbers of spots, the Indian team management has already finalised the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup.
The team management is still thinking about the second wicketkeeper of the team. As MS Dhoni will be India’s first wicketkeeper for the upcoming World Cup, the team management is observing closely on Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant for the second wicketkeeping option.
Though Rishabh Pant performed well in the recent Test series in Australia, he wasn’t in the ODI squads in both the Australia and New Zealand tours. However, he is now featuring in the ongoing three-match T20I series against the hosts New Zealand. In the first T20I of the series at Wellington on Wednesday (6 February), while the Indian national cricket team failed hugely, Rishabh Pant was also unable to utilise his opportunity. The 21-year-old left-handed batsman scored just four runs as India lost the game by 80 runs after going to chase 220 runs.
There are still matches left
However, Sunil Gavaskar still believes that Rishabh Pant has enough chances to secure his spot for the upcoming World Cup. After the completion of the ongoing three-match T20I series in New Zealand, India will play two T20Is and five ODIs at home against Australia. Sunil Gavaskar feels that Rishabh Pant will get his opportunity to make an impact in those matches.
The Indian legendary batsman told Indian Today, “I don’t think so [Wellington knock hampered his chances of sealing a World Cup berth]. There are five more matches in India as well the 50-over matches and the T20I matches against the Australians where Rishabh can make an impact.”
The jetlag was still around maybe
Sunil Gavaskar also pointed out the jetlag factor on Rishabh Pant. The young wicketkeeper-batsman recently reached New Zealand to play only the T20I series.
Pointing out that, Sunil Gavaskar added, “And he just arrived in New Zealand. Believe me, it’s very tough to score straightway when you have travelled. The jetlag was still around maybe. I am not trying to make excuses for the young man, it’s just one match and anybody can fail. It’s not a big deal.”
Like many experts, Sunil Gavaskar also wants to see Rishabh Pant in the upcoming World Cup. Everyone is now eagerly waiting to see what will happen next.