Sunil Gavaskar Responds To Shane Warne's Suggestion Of Promoting Rishabh Pant As Opener

As the ICC World Cup 2019 is drawing closer, the biggest topic of discussion in the Indian cricket fraternity is whether Rishabh Pant would make it to the squad. After impressing in Tests and known for his hard-hitting abilities, Pant had looked primed to be India’s World Cup squad when the selectors called him up for his maiden ODI series in October last year. However, the bubble busted when the selectors decided against picking him in the team for the crucial series in Australia and New Zealand.

The snub put a huge question mark over Pant’s World Cup chances. But later chief selector MSK Prasad insisted that the wicketkeeper-batsman is in contention for a spot. Pant later played one-day games for India A against England Lions. Media reports suggest that the youngster is all but sure of a spot in the World Cup squad. The question now is where he should bat.

The popular choice is that the hard-hitting batsman should play as a finisher. But recently, spin legend Shane Warne said he would love to see Pant opening the innings. The former Australia spinner felt that the move would take the opposition by surprise. And now Pant has found another backer in former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar.

“Yes, why not. If you open with Rishab Pant, it opens up a third option for you as well. If he does well at the top, he is someone who can also be played in the middle order,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“Pant is a left hander as well. It’s important to have a left-right combination going because it does make the bowlers task that much more difficult. That’s why Rohit-Dhawan have been so successful. So have Sachin-Ganguly and Sehwag-Ganguly in the past. So if Pant succeeds as an opener, that’s great for your side,” he added.

Before the World Cup,  India will play five ODIs against Australia. Pant is likely to return to the ODI team during the series.