Rishabh Pant Latest News: Watch Virat Kohli discloses why Wriddhiman Saha has been preferred over Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant Latest News: The Indian team management’s decision to drop Rishabh Pant has come as an intriguing decision for fans.

India have announced their playing XI for the first Test of the ongoing series against South Africa. Slated to be played tomorrow at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the match will be part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.

Among the three changes which India have made to their Playing XI include opening batsman Rohit Sharma, wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin coming in for Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant and injured fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

Standing tall on his reputation, Pant had kick-started his Test career with a maiden century in England last year and followed it up with another one in Australia earlier this year. After the Sydney hundred, Pant had become the only visiting wicket-keeper (other than Jeff Dujon) to score a Test century each in England and Australia.

Rishabh Pant Latest News

With Pant missing out on selection despite decent numbers in the format, it was India captain Virat Kohli who opened up on the reason behind including Saha over Pant. Speaking to the reporters in the pre-series press conference, Kohli unveiled that Saha was always in their plans as a wicket-keeper in Tests.

“Although [Wriddhiman] Saha was almost going to start [in West Indies], we felt like it’s better to let him ease back into things rather than forcing him. We all felt like he’s just come back [from two injuries]. Although he is keeping well, batting well, it’s fair to give Rishabh [Pant]  a few more opportunities because of what he has done in the past season.

“Saha was always going to be someone we would back as a pure keeper in Test cricket. He’s done well under pressure situations for us. It was about finding the right opportunity to bring him back,” Kohli was quoted as saying.

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