India vs New Zealand 2019, Rishabh Pant, Michael Vaughan
Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan questioned why India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant is not getting his ODI chances. India already has MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik in their squad as wicketkeeper batsmen and thus the All India Selection Committee has put Pant’s ODI selection at bay.

Meanwhile, the chief selector MSK Prasad has recently said that Rishabh Pant is in their World Cup 2019 plans. The combative batsman was at his best in the recently concluded four-match Test series against Australia.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Michael Vuaghan, Australia vs India 2018/19
Michael Vaughan (Credits – Getty)

Pant could be an X-factor.

He had scored an unbeaten knock of 159 in the fourth Test match at Sydney. Furthermore, the pugnacious batsman was the second highest run-getter of the four-match series on the Down Under tour.

The left-hander scored 350 runs in the four matches as he came up with invaluable contributions while batting down the order. However, the selection committee wanted to give a rest to Rishabh Pant in the ODI format.

On the other hand, India was skittled out for a paltry score of 92 runs in the fourth One Day International against New Zealand. India was 3-0 up in the series however they were at sea in the swinging conditions at Hamilton.

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Australia vs India 2018-19, Rishabh Pant, Harbhajan Singh
Getty Images

There is a bleak chance for Pant.

MS Dhoni is still not fit and Dinesh Karthik played as a keeper in the fourth match. However, Karthik who has provided the finishing touches in the recent past, played a loose shot away from the body.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has an attacking technique and could be an X-factor in the team. However, with Dhoni and Karthik expected to be mainstays in the team, Pant’s place in the ODI squad would be under a dark cloud.

Michael Vaughan took to Twitter to share his thoughts. Vaughan post read as, “Why isn’t @RishabPant777 getting a go in the ODIs !???

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