Why is Rishabh Pant not playing today’s third T20I between India and Sri Lanka?

Rishabh Pant not playing today’s third T20I: The Indian team has decided to leave out their regular wicket-keeper batsman for Pune T20I.

During the third T20I of the ongoing Sri Lanka’s tour of India in Pune, India have made three changes to their Playing XI, the biggest of them being benching wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant.

Among the other two players to sit out for the last T20I against Sri Lanka are all-rounder Shivam Dube and spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

While the first match was abandoned due to rain, Pant had scored 1* in the second match as he came out to bat two deliveries before India sealed the chase. As far as Yadav is concerned, he did pick two wickets for 38 runs in the second T20I in Indore. Not being given a chance in either of the two departments, Dube has been rested to accommodate an extra batsman.

Rishabh Pant not playing today’s third T20I between India and Sri Lanka

The three changes were announced by India captain Virat Kohli during the toss who made public that wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson, batsman Manish Pandey and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal have been included in the Playing XI for this match.

“We wanted to bat first as we wanted to do something different today. Toss was almost irrelevant as we knew they wanted to bowl first. Batting first is something we want to do more. Trend is going towards team wanting to chase, we want to be a side who want to embrace the other aspect also so that we are better placed, if things don’t go our way at toss.

As many as three changes….wow. Chahal, Pandey and Samson IN for Dube, Pant and Kuldeep. India going in with only 5 bowling options. Batting first….need 180+ to win the match & trophy. #IndvSL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 10, 2020

“We have made three changes today. Sanju Samson comes in place of Rishabh Pant. [Yuzvendra] Chahal replaces Kuldeep [Yadav] who gets a rest today and Manish Pandey gets a game in place of Shivam Dube. We are playing with five bowlers and it will be a challenge for them to defend the target,” Kohli was quoted as saying during the toss.

With Kohli not giving any particular reasons behind benching the three players, one believes it is an outcome of giving the reserve players a chance in the last match of the series. Having gained an unassailable lead in the series, India would be looking to clinch the series now.

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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