Saba Karim believes Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant are long-term Team India prospects in all three formats of the game. Rishabh Pant has already showcased his immense talent over the last couple of months in the longest format, which has also helped him stage a comeback in the white-ball T20I format.
Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, made a terrific international debut with his swashbuckling knock against England in the second T20I after excellent performances in IPL 2020 at UAE where he amassed 516 runs in 14 games averaging 57.33`1 and played a part in Mumbai Indian’s title triumph.
Saba Karim: Both Rishabh Pant And Ishan Kishan Are Proven Match Winners
During a discussion on India News, Saba Karim observed that the current Indian team is blessed to have match-winners like Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant playing together in the T20I format. He added it won’t be long before both are seen representing India in all three formats of the game.
“Both the batsmen have always attempted to prove themselves as match-winners. Earlier Rishabh Pant proved that and now when Ishan Kishan has been given an opportunity, his mindset has also been similar. So I feel India is blessed to have match-winning ability players like Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant in the shorter format of the game. I have full confidence that in the future Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant will represent India in all three formats,” said Saba Karim.
The former wicket-keeper-batsman highlighted that the duo of Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant’s prior commitments and experience is helping them settle into India’s set-up. The duo starred for India in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup.
“Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant have both played the Under-19 World Cup for India in 2016. So their foundation has been extremely solid. They know their responsibilities in international cricket and how they have to prove themselves,” pointed out Saba Karim.
Saba Karim: There Can’t Be A Bigger Thing Than Having 2 Players Of Likes Of MS Dhoni
Both the duo of Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan is often compared to former India skipper and keeper MS Dhoni. When asked if he feels there are two MS Dhoni’s in the Indian team now, Saba Karim replied that Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant will do well if they go close to the lofty standards of MS Dhoni
“It seems like that. If the Indian team can get two Dhoni’s, there cannot be a bigger thing than that. The fearless and carefree manner in which both these players have played and they know what their roles are, showed amazing aggression and that too with calculated risks,” added Saba Karim.
While lauding the duo’s big-hitting abilities, the 53-year-old signed off by stating that the duo will gain more confidence if they get more opportunities.
“Ishan Kishan had struck 30 sixes in the last IPL season. Both these left-handed batsmen have the six-hitting ability and the Indian team needs that currently. It is very good preparation in T20s for the Indian team and these two players and the more chances they get, their self-confidence will increase further,” concluded Saba Karim.
Rishabh Pant’s average has been less than 30 and he has managed only 3 fifties in both the limited-overs formats combined as he has most often gifted his wicket but he will look to make amends in the remaining 3 T20Is and if selected in the 3 ODIs that follows the T20I series.