Ajit Agarkar on Pant: “I can’t believe he’s not part of the India’s shorter format setup”

Ajit Agarkar on Pant: Agarkar has expressed surprise at not watching Pant in Indian’s limited-overs team.

Post a few below par performances with the bat in hand in his first two Test matches, Rishabh Pant has put on display the fact that he can be India’s next game-changer. After scoring a maiden Test century against England at The Oval, Pant hit a quickfire half-century against West Indies in the ongoing match at Rajkot.

“I can’t believe he (Pant) is not part of the India’s shorter format setup. He is naturally suited to those [limited-overs] formats. In Test cricket, I’m glad that he has gone from strength to strength. Hopefully, he continues to do that. Can turn games in a session,” Agarkar said about the 21-year old southpaw.

Agarkar further advocated regarding Pant being included for the ODI series against West Indies. He also hinted at Dhoni being rested for Pant to play. “Hopefully they do that (select Pant in ODIs) sooner, rather than later, against the West Indies in the ODI series.

“There are five ODIs and there will be an opportunity to play him somewhere, whether as a batter or a wicket-keeper. I mean you know what Dhoni can do and there is no harm in resting him for a couple of games,” he added.

Agarkar was also of the opinion of including Pant as a specialist batsman in the middle-order. “He [Pant] is a good striker of the ball and looks like a batsman for all formats of the game, he looks the part. In the top six, purely with his batting ability there no doubt in my mind that he has to be given the opportunity to see whether he is good enough. There is no left-hander [in the middle-order] and the way he strikes the ball, it is suited for any format,” he further added.

Below are some of the latest Twitter reactions on Pant:

There’s a reason why Virat Kohli’s conversion rate is so staggering. He doesn’t throw it away. Just doesn’t.

Rishabh Pant should have taken a leaf from his book when batting with him. Or now… kicking himself in the dressing room. Don’t throw Test hundreds away! #IndvWI

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) October 5, 2018

Was going somewhere and then thought-
Pant ki batting dekhke chalte hain.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 5, 2018

In 2018 Test matches, Rishabh Pant scores at 4.52rpo.

In 2018 ODIs, MS Dhoni scores at 4.04rpo.#INDvWI

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 5, 2018

Read this somewhere yesterday and it’s true af.

“Dhoni should teach Pant how to keep against spinners and Pant should teach Dhoni how to bat against spinners.”

— C/S (@LordShastri) October 6, 2018

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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