Contest Between Ishan Kishan And Rishabh Pant For The Keeper's Spot Will Be Intriguing Within Indian Cricket: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has backed Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant to fight for the wicketkeeper’s spot in the national team in the coming future. Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant have had highly contrasting runs in IPL 2020. However, with both of them having played together in the U-19 World Cup, Sanjay Manjrekar believes they will fight it out.

Rishabh Pant has faced massive criticism with his form and fitness concerns in the ongoing edition of IPL. The southpaw has managed only 285 runs in 12 games at 28.50 with a strike rate of 109, failing on numerous occasions when Delhi Capitals have needed him. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan is the fourth-highest run-getter in IPL 2020 with 483 runs, striking at 144 and averaging above 50.

Sanjay Manjrekar feels excited about the contest between the two cricketing gems in Indian cricket; however, admitted that Rishabh’s omission from India’s limited-overs teams is a massive setback for him. On the other hand, the 55-year old was all praise for Kishan, underlining he has got more gears. Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that Ishan Kishan will compete with his junior cricket colleagues for the spot in the Indian team, setting up an intriguing contest.

“Contest within a contest in Indian cricket. Pant’s absence from India’s white-ball squads is a massive setback; just a few months back, he was a ‘star’. He can hit quality fast bowlers out of the ground too and seems to have acquired more gears to his batting than Pant does. He will now start competing with his junior cricket colleague for the same spot in the Indian team. This will be an intriguing contest within a contest in Indian cricket,” Manjrekar stated as quoted by India Today.

“Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan are contemporaries” : Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar named Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan as contemporaries, remembering them playing in the U-19 World Cup in Dhaka. Manjrekar recalled Rahul Dravid serving as their coach and Pant and Kishan being the ‘Alphas’ in the team. He added that Pant was more flamboyant in his approach while Kishan was level-headed.

“Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan are contemporaries. I remember them being part of the India U19 team in the World Cup in Dhaka in 2016; Rahul Dravid was their coach. Pant and Kishan were the “alphas” in that team, Kishan more obviously so, being the captain. Pant was flamboyant in the way he played his cricket while Kishan was more measured in his approach,” he added.

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