We Want to Give Chances to Rishabh Pant Before 2019 World Cup: MSK Prasad
Feb 15, 2019 at 7:39 PM
The wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who recently won the 2018 ICC’s Emerging Cricketer Award, has received backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) selection committee’s chief MSK Prasad. The selector’s head Prasad reiterated they’re looking forward to giving some more chances to see how Pant will go ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
On the other side, the 33-year-old Dinesh Karthik will not feature in the ODI series. However, he is a part of the T20I series.
Recently, Pant has shown the progress in the limited-overs fold. While donning national colours, Pant has played 13 T20Is and three ODIs for India since February 1, 2017.
Apart from it, in four Tests, he recorded 696 runs at an average of 49.71. He brought his maiden Test hundred against England at the Oval before smashing unbeaten 159 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
One thing is evident, Karthik has enough exposure, but the inclusion of Pant has improved his chances to book a berth for the quadrennial event in England and Wales.
While speaking during a press-post squad announcement weighs in on Pant. The southpaw had a good outing in the Test fold against Australia. However, he was rested for the One-day Internationals.
Does Pant seal his place for the 2019 World Cup?
Earlier, Pant has delivered goods against England Lions which further improved his chances in the national fold.
“Yes definitely, because prior to this, we had two series in Australia and New Zealand, that’s where Karthik was chosen. Because Rishabh played four Test matches, so we wanted him to get a good break. So, he had a 20 days break. Then he played a couple of One Day matches against England Lions in which he did really well. Then we sent him to New Zealand for the T20I series. So, we want to give enough chances to him before the World Cup,” Prasad said.
BCCI on February 15 (Friday) has announced three different squads for the impending limited-overs series against Australia.
However, the 20-year-old Pant has made it to two-match Twenty20 International squad apart from the five-match One-day International series. Virat Kohli will lead both the squads following a much-required break.
The home campaign for the Men in Blue will kick off on February 24. Moreover, the series will culminate with the fifth and final ODI at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on March 13.
Also, the Indian Premier League will kick off on March 23, as ODI showpiece will kick off in London on May 30.
Here’s the video of MSK Prasad on Rishabh Pant’s inclusion:
"We want to give enough chances to Pant before the World Cup" – MSK Prasad #TeamIndia #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/o13jma3yuE
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2019