Australia vs India 2018-19: Rishabh Pant Needs to Bat at No 6 To Convert Starts into Hundreds - Sunil Gavaskar

Indian National Cricket team wicket-keeper batsman has been in the headlines following his scintillating knock in the fourth Test against Australia at Sydney. The unbeaten knock of 159 runs propelled India to a massive first innings total which has earned accolades from all over the world. And now, Sunil Gavaskar has urged to promote Rishabh Pant to no. 6 saying he is more than a handy batsman to have in the side.

Meanwhile, Pant, after his emphatic century in England, failed to convert the starts as he paid the price for his over-aggressive batting style. However, he looked in control of things despite taking an attacking mode after the departure of Cheteshwar Pujara. The southpaw became the first India wicket-keeper to score a century in Australia as he stitched a 204-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja. Sunil Gavaskar feels that Rishabh Pant will start converting starts if the selectors bestow more responsibility on him.

“If at all, you’re looking at balancing the team out, then you have got to have Pant batting at No. 6. Every single game, he has contributed 30s and 40s. In Sydney, he scored a 159. Before that, he has consistently got starts, which makes him a very useful batsman to have at No. 6. The more responsibility you give him at No. 6, he will convert a lot of those 30s and 40s into 100s,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Pant will get back to ODI set up soon

Speaking on Rishabh Pant’s exclusion from the ODI squads for the Australia and New Zealand series, Sunil Gavaskar said it’s only a matter of time that the Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman will be a permanent member of the Indian limited-overs sides.

“It will happen sooner than later (play all three formats for India). But let’s not forget this was Test-match innings that he played,” Gavaskar added.

“I think India need to first look at tour Test team, then we can think about getting him back into the ODI team. That day is also not too far away. We all know MSD (MS Dhoni) is not going to play after the ICC World Cup in June-July. Rishabh will get his opportunity in the next season, if not at the World Cup next year,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.

Despite dropping him the ODI squad, chairman of selectors MSK Prasad admitted that Rishabh Pant is still in the World Cup plans. However, with MS Dhoni still the first choice wicket-keeper, the chances are very bleak for the young keeper.