Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant hasn’t lived up to the expectations in the T20 format for Team India. He once again failed to make an impact in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand. Former India cricketer Reetinder Singh Sodhi feels that the wicket-keeper is becoming a liability for the team in the shortest format of the game.
Rishabh Pant managed just seventeen runs in two matches in the T20I series against New Zealand. He also couldn’t make an impact in the 2022 T20 World Cup earlier this month. The 25-year-old was even dropped down in the pecking order behind Dinesh Karthik for the mega-event. However, he was brought back into the XI for the New Zealand series, where he again failed to grab his chances.
Reetinder Singh Sodhi expressed that Rishabh Pant has been given a long rope by Team India in T20Is. He added that the team should bring in Sanju Samson, in Pant’s place. Samson was part of the T20I series in New Zealand, but couldn’t get a chance in the XI. Reetinder Singh Sodhi stated as quoted by India News,
“He (Pant) is becoming a liability for Team India. If it’s like this, then bring in Sanju Samson. End of the day, you got to take that chance because you cannot afford to lose and exit in World Cup or ICC tournaments. When you give too many chances, problems arise. The time has come to provide opportunities to new guys.”
“Only time will tell how many opportunities and how long he gets. Time is passing and he really has to tighten his shoes. Everything has a limit. You cannot depend on one player for so long. If he is not performing, you got to show him the exit door,” he added.
Rishabh Pant is a match-winner, but if you don’t score runs, you don’t help your team win: Reetinder Singh Sodhi
Former India cricketer Reetinder Singh Sodhi further expressed that Rishabh Pant is a match-winner. However, he added that the left-handed batter hasn’t performed up to his standards in T20Is so far. Sodhi also opined that the Indian selectors should now think beyond Rishabh Pant. He said,
“We all know Rishabh Pant is a match-winner, but you don’t score runs. You don’t help your team win. You got the opportunity in an important event like the World Cup. I accept that initially, he didn’t get the opportunity, but whenever you get a chance, your job is to perform, which has not happened. It’s time that selectors think beyond him.”
Rishabh Pant is part of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The first of the three matches will take place on Friday, November 25 at Eden Park in Auckland.
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