IND vs ENG: Zaheer Khan Applauds India's Decision To Send Rishabh Pant As Opener In The 2nd T20I Against England
Published - 10 Jul 2022, 01:08 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:10 AM
The opening position with Rohit Sharma was open because KL Rahul was out of the series owing to a groyne issue.
In an unexpected move, India put out wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant to open the innings with captain Rohit. Zaheer Khan, a former pace bowler for India, has hailed the decision.
For the second T20I against England, all of the players were accessible for selection after the majority of the current members of the starting XI were rested for the first T20I against England. Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Virat Kohli all joined the starting XI.
Rishabh Pant put in a really impressive performance, but he was unable to capitalise on his strong start by maintaining his momentum. He scored 26 runs off of 15 pitches in an inning that featured four fours and a six. With captain Rohit Sharma, he put together a 49-run opening stand that was aggressive in just 29 balls.
‘I am very curious to see how Pant goes’: Zaheer Khan
In an interview with Cricbuzz, former Indian speed bowler Zaheer Khan hailed the decision.
Zaheer claimed that when he first heard about the manoeuvre, he was intrigued to see how Pant handled the responsibility.
“It’s interesting, and now I’m curious to see how Pant performs. He had long wanted to carry out this action. He aims to succeed in positions 1 to 3. And only when you play between 1 and 3 can you play the maximum number of deliveries in this format,” he said.
Zaheer Khan agrees, saying that Pant has a strong chance because he can take his time and start an innings from fresh.
“You can create the innings when you’re opening. It would be intriguing to see how he handles his innings; if he succeeds, it will be challenging for the bowlers as well. It’s a really wise and unexpected move on the part of the Indian team,” Zaheer Khan said.
India took a dominating 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Saturday after defeating England by 49 runs in the second T20 International.
Also Read: ‘Like the idea of Pant opening,’ says Sehwag after India win T20I series against England
