IPL 2022: The Best Position For Rishabh Pant Is No. 3 - Ravi Shastri Wants DC To Give The Skipper A "Freehand"

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri feels the “best position” for Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant in T20 cricket is No. 3. He maintains that the team management should give the left-hander a “freehand” in the must-win game against the Mumbai Indians on Saturday and ask others in the batting order to take the responsibility onus.

Pant has had an inquisitive IPL 2022. His average and strike rate take a gander at first look – 30.10 and 157.59 individually – yet his highest score is only 44, regardless of him batting at No. 4. Different hitters similarly situated have consolidated to hit 14 fifties, with some including two times in the rundown.

Rishabh Pant Can Play At 3 By Making Mitchell Marsh Play At 4: Ravi Shastri

Rishabh Pant’s hold-nothing-back strategy has made all the difference on occasions, yet on different times he has got out at some unacceptable minutes where the hitters following him have battled to convey the team to the end goal. Up to this point, he has just batted once at No. 3 this year, scoring a 14-ball 27 after a 93-run opening stand.

Shastri feels the answer lies in eliminating the strain off his shoulders by putting the in-form Mitchell Marsh at No. 4. Shastri told ESPNcricinfo :

“They should try to give him a free hand. And I believe the best position for him is up the order at No. 3, Marsh and others can come after that… He should play freely because there are many other players around him who can take responsibility.

If he gets going and stands there for 6-7 overs, the score will go beyond 170-180 straightaway.”

Generally, Rishabh Pant has batted at No. 3 on 12 events. His average here is practically equivalent to No. 4 however the strike rate is his best in any position – a splendid 170.54.

Chetan Sakariya Can Replace Khaleel Ahmed If The Surface Is Slow: Ravi Shastri

The Capitals are probably not going to change a lot in the triumphant blend for Saturday’s match, yet they have routinely exchanged between left-arm pacers Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed, which could repeat. Ahmed played in the last match however went wicketless and surrendered 43 runs in his four overs.

Shastri made sense of the distinction between the abilities of the two bowlers and said the decision will be made based on the pitch. He said:

“If the pitch is on the slower side and the ball is going to grip then perhaps Sakariya could play because he has the pace variations. If the pitch is lively, there’s grass, and they think it will favor seam movement and bounce then Khaleel will play.

All will be decided by the pitch. And who knows, if the conditions are overcast, the ball might swing too.”

Also Read: RR vs CSK: Riyan Parag Breaks Ravindra Jadeja’s All-time Record During IPL 2022 Match Against CSK