Shane Warne Believes Rishabh Pant Can Play As An Opener With Rohit Sharma In World Cup

Feb 13, 2019 at 12:29 PM

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Shane Warne Believes Rishabh Pant Can Play As An Opener With Rohit Sharma In World Cup

Recently, the legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne came up with a surprising opening partner suggestion for the Indian national cricket team. He feels that Rishabh Pant can play as an opening batsman along with Rohit Sharma in the upcoming World Cup.

Shane Warne, Rishabh Pant
Shane Warne (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Both the Indian limited-overs opening partners, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are in good form at present. However, Shane Warne believes that Rishabh Pant can play as the specialist batsman for India, and he can also be a good opening batsman. The legendary leg-spinner further believes that MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant both can play together for India.

In a recent interview, Shane Warne told India Today, “There has been talk if Rishabh Pant can play in the side. I think Dhoni and Pant both can play. I can’t see why Rishabh Pant can’t play as a batsman, he is outstanding. Maybe even open the batting with Rohit Sharma. I know Shikhar Dhawan does a great job but Rishabh Pant opening the batting with Rohit Sharma could be pretty cool too for India. Go with some of these X-factor type things and tactical battles, where you surprise the opposition.”

Before the forthcoming World Cup in middle of this calendar year, India has only one ODI series left. In the next month, India will play a five-match home ODI series against Australia. Shane Warne feels that India can experiment Rishabh Pant as an opening batsman during the upcoming home series, eyeing for the World Cup.

Shane Warne added, “It could be worth throwing Rishabh Pant at the top of the order for a couple of games and see how he goes. Maybe against Australia now [upcoming series] and experiment and see how he goes for the World Cup. Dhawan may have a role to play somewhere else. But I am really looking forward to seeing what India have because they have a lot of players who can do a lot of roles.”

India needs MS Dhoni in the World Cup

Shane Warne, Rishabh Pant
MS Dhoni (Image Credit: Getty Images)

However, Shane Warne feels that MS Dhoni is in no danger to lose his spot from the national team for the upcoming World Cup. The former Aussie leg-spinner believes that India needs MS Dhoni’s immense experience in the World Cup.

Shane Warne quoted, “If you are going to win World Cups and I have been in a few and won a few, you need your best and most experienced players to perform. If they perform, you will win the World Cup. So India need MS Dhoni to perform at his best in the World Cup. India need him in the team.”

The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni had a rare struggling year in 2018. In last year, MS Dhoni had an average of just 25.00 in ODI cricket, without scoring a single half-century. However, he has returned to the form in the New Year (2019). In the very first ODI series of the year, MS Dhoni won Player of the Series award.

It was the three-match ODI series in Australia tour, where MS Dhoni scored 193 runs averaging the same. In every game of that series, the right-handed batsman scored half-centuries, including two match-winning unbeaten innings. In further, he carried the same performances and confidence in recently concluded New Zealand tour.

Shane Warne pointed out that MS Dhoni could easily adapt himself with the match situation.

He added, “Dhoni has always done what is best for the team, whether it is bat at No. 4,5,6. Whatever the state of the game, the match situation, he will adapt. If you need 10 runs an over, he will adapt. He will do it, it’s a proven fact. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. They need him in the team because he will deliver because he is class.”

England and Wales will host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup from 30 May to 14 July.

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