RIshabh Pant
Rishabh Pant. (Photo: BCCI)

Former England batsman Ian Bell has lavished praises on Rishabh Pant, who has made a compelling case for inclusion across formats in India’s line-up. Rishabh Pant returned to India’s T20 squad after more than a year and even featured in Friday’s match against England in Ahmedabad. Ian Bell believes that now is the right time for the 23-year old to play in all the versions, given ICC events are looming.

Over the last few months, Rishabh Pant has redefined consistency in the Test arena. The keeper-batsman put up game-changing performances in the Test series in Australia and the home rubber against England to lead the men in blue to victory. Pant, who played in the first T20I against England, did not last plenty of deliveries in the game; however, he played some eye-catching strokes.

Ian Bell Believes Now Is The Right Time For Rishabh Pant To Play All The Formats For India
Ian Bell. (Credits: Twitter)

Ian Bell underlined that with the ICC events coming up, this is the right time for the Indian team to groove him so that he could translate his form for the Test matches to white-ball cricket.

“I think now is the time, isn’t it? With the ICC events that are coming up over the next few years this is the right time after what we saw Rishabh Pant through the Test matches, especially in the last innings,” Bell told ESPN Cricinfo.

We obviously know what he is capable of: Ian Bell

Rishabh Pant, Jofra Archer
Rishabh Pant. Image Credits: BCCI

While Rishabh Pant has played some audacious strokes against Jofra Archer and James Anderson very recently, the Warwickshire-born former cricketer chose to see the maturity that the gloveman has showcased. Bell reminded that the century he scored in the fourth Test displayed that Pant constantly thinks and improves.

There was a maturity. We obviously know what he is capable of, the ability he has, the admirers he has. The fact that he played that Test match innings at the end, it shows that he is improving and thinking all the time,” he added.

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