India Wrong To Leave Out Rishabh Pant From World Cup Squad: Ricky Ponting

Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting feels India made a mistake by not Rishabh Pant in the 15-man squad for 2019 World Cup. Ponting’s comments came after Pant’s starring display for Delhi Capitals against Rajasthan Royals on Monday. Pant scored a blazing unbeaten fifty as Delhi Capitals crushed Royals by 6 wickets to register their seventh win of the season. The win also helped Delhi displace Chennai Super Kings from the top of the points table.

Asked to bat first, Rajasthan Royals piled up a challenging total of 191 for 6 in the 20 overs. Ajinkya Rahane starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 105* while skipper Steve Smith scored 50. However, Delhi never looked in trouble during the chase thanks to Shikhar Dhawan and Pant. Dhawan gave Delhi a quick start and departed after slamming 54 from just 27 deliveries.  Delhi lost Shreyas Iyer cheaply but Shaw and Pant batted the Royals out of the game by adding 84 runs for the third wicket.

Pant remained unbeaten on 78 from just 36 deliveries to take his team home in the very final over. Pant’s knock contained 6 fours and 4 sixes as he showcased his finishing abilities again.

An unbeaten 78* from Rishabh Pant as the @DelhiCapitals win by 6 wickets ??#RRvDC pic.twitter.com/IxI9lAzgw2

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 22, 2019

After the game, Ricky Ponting said that Pant was disappointed on missing out on the World Cup squad before stating that the southpaw would have been “absolutely devastating” in English conditions.

“I know how disappointed he was to miss out on the World Cup. In my opinion as well, I think India made the wrong choice there. I think he would have been absolutely devastating in English conditions through those middle over against spinners,” Ricky Ponting told the official broadcasters.

“Would have loved to see what he could have done in the World Cup. As I said at the time he was left out, he’s got the potential to play three or four more World Cups if he keeps himself fit and healthy.

“Someone as explosive as Rishabh likes a bit more pace on the ball. And we saw that tonight. Once he gets those sort of wickets he’s lethal. He got a wicket like that in Mumbai and he hit 70-odd off 20-odd balls,” he added.

Pant, meanwhile, has made it to India’s five-man shortlist of the World Cup standbys. In case any player gets injured, he stands a chance of making it to the mega event.