Kapil Dev Backs Rishabh Pant To Make A Comeback

One of the major positives for India in the recent past was KL Rahul’s wicket-keeping Work, which gave the team management a chance to add an extra batsman in the lineup. Though the move came out positive, the former skipper Kapil Dev raised his concern over Rishabh Pant’s future in the Indian National Cricket team.

Pant suffered a concussion in the 1st ODI against Australia at Wankhede in January and was rested for the 2nd ODI. In his absence, KL Rahul donned the gloves and was impressive behind the stumps. After Rahul’s impressive show as a wicket-keeper, questions have been raised over Pant’s spot in the Indian team.

I would tell Pant not to get disheartened – Kapil Dev

Rishabh Pant regained his fitness in the third ODI but was not included in the side as KL Rahul did a fabulous job both with the bat and gloves on his hands. India decided to continue with Rahul as the keeper, which gave more balance to the side allowing Virat Kohli to play an extra batsman. Former India World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, however, said Pant should not be disheartened.

“Pant will get his chance but he has to make sure, he grabs that one. I would tell Pant not to get disheartened and prove people wrong by saying there’s still a lot of cricket left in him,” Kapil Dev told ABP News.

Rishabh Pant shouldn’t think too far ahead:

Further, Kapil Dev asked Rishabh Pant to follow the formula of the former opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar to score 20 first and then eye 25, 50, 60 and a century. He wants the youngster to stay calm and make things fall in place for himself.

“I always like to give Sunil Gavaskar’s example. He used to say if you want to make a 100 then get to 20 first, then 25, 50, 60 and go on. So Rishabh Pant has to think that way. He shouldn’t think too far ahead. His target should be the next 5-10 matches and see how he performs. There’s no shortage of talent. So if he performs, no one can stop him,” said Kapil.

Pant had shown glimpses of his potential with the bat in the West Indies series where he scored 71 in the first ODI. But 23-year-old left-hander has not done justice to his talent both as keeper and as a batsman in T20Is. Meanwhile, India beat New Zealand by 7 runs in the final T20I to become the first Test-playing nation to win a T20I series 5-0. The two sides will again lock horns in a three-match ODI series starting on Wednesday.

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