IND vs ENG: "Trying To Give Him Free Hand": Former India Spinner On Indian Batter Playing As Opener

Rishabh Pant was unexpectedly chosen to start the batting for India against England in their second T20 International (T20I) on Saturday at Edgbaston.

The daring left-hander has played in the middle order for the majority of his senior career and this was his first time opening for India in the T20I format, but he has yet to firmly solidify his position in the team. Pant scored 26 runs off 15 deliveries, which contributed to India’s great start.

Rishabh Pant Needs To Get Few Runs In White Ball Games: Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla, a former India spinner, believes that the action was intended to give Pant “a free hand” to play his aggressive style of cricket. 

“Maybe just trying to give him that free hand because we’ve seen that in the last few games in white-ball cricket, he didn’t get too many runs. Although he was brilliant in red-ball, but he needs to get that form going in white-ball cricket,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo. 

“That could be the reason because when you go and open the innings and if the first ball is in his arc, he is ready to go for it when the field is up. So I think that kind of role they have given to Rishabh Pant – ‘go and express yourself’.

That’s what his game is all about. With fielders inside the ring, it becomes a little free hand for him. So that could be the reason they sent Rishabh Pant to open the innings,” he explained. 

KL Rahul Will Continue His Role As An Opener: Piyush Chawla

When KL Rahul rejoins the squad, he added, it is doubtful that Pant would continue to bat as an opener. 

“The kind of record KL Rahul has, especially in T20 cricket while opening, I don’t see that as a regular spot (for Pant), but it’s something they wanted to try. And we’ve seen a couple of statements earlier from senior players and ex-cricketers that he can do the role which Gilchrist has done for the Australian team.

But KL Rahul is a class act. So once he comes back into the side, I don’t think Rishabh Pant fits into that spot,” Chawla said. 

In the third and final T20I against England, Pant continued to start at the front. He was removed for 1 off 5 deliveries as India chased 216, although he did not have an effect. 

Despite Suryakumar Yadav’s outstanding century, India ultimately lost the game by 17 runs. Although the right-hander scored 117 runs in only 55 deliveries, India was unable to sweep the series. 

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “It’s A Real Powerhouse T20 Team India Have Available” – Former England Spinner