Ahead of the first T20I match against West Indies in Florida, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that it would be a great opportunity for young dasher Rishabh Pant to prove his mettle. With MS Dhoni not included in the white-ball squad, Pant will be the key man for men in blue.

India will play two T20Is against the Windies before moving onto the ODIs. The sides will then meet in a Test series to earn the bragging rights. Pant was called-up midway into the World Cup squad. He batted at No.4 but failed to make an impact. He is often seen as someone who has got a lot of potential but often gets out playing irresponsible shots.

Kohli backs Pant to come good

“It”s a great opportunity for someone like Rishabh Pant to really play a lot of international cricket, show his credentials, really unleash his potential at this stage,” Kohli said.

India will surely miss the service of Dhoni. With 350 ODIs under his belt, the former captain has been a seasoned campaigner. However, Dhoni”s ability with the bat hasn”t been the same and it is an ideal time for India to look forward to the future.

An acid test for the young wicket-keeper batsman

“We know how much ability he has and we all want him to become a consistent performer for the Indian cricket team. MS”s experience is always going to be a very crucial factor but having said that some of these younger guys have a great opportunity ahead of them and they should just look forward to it.” the 30-year-old added.

Pant has so far represented India in 15 T20Is and 9 ODIs. In Tests, the Uttarakhand-born cricketer has already hit a couple of hundreds in mere 9 outings. He is a new-age cricketer who carries a lot of confidence. The games ahead could be a defining moment in his career.

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