The former Indian batsman Wasim Jaffer reckons that India should consider using the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant as an opener in T20I cricket because that’s the batting position where he might flourish in the shortest format of the game.
Rishabh Pant has had a great career in test cricket so far and he has done reasonably well in ODI cricket too, but it’s in T20 international cricket that he has struggled a little bit while batting in the middle order and that’s large because he has not been able to find the right kind of tempo in the middle order.
Perhaps this is the reason why Wasim Jaffer wants the young, dynamic left-hander to be given a go at the top of the order. With KL Rahul out injured at the moment, India is currently opening with Ishan Kishan in T20I cricket and Ishan has done enough to justify his spot as well.
Rishabh Pant will be available for selection in the second T20I against England
But, it will probably be hard for India to accommodate Ishan Kishan in the playing XI when their first choice team will be available. Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant are automatic selections at the moment and both of them will be available for second T20 international against England.
If the Indian team management decides to leave out Ishan Kishan to get Rishabh Pant in, then with the unavailability of KL Rahul who is India’s premier opener, Pant won’t be a bad choice to open, as suggested by Jaffer.
Indian think tank should think about opening with Rishabh Pant in T20Is. I think that's the spot where he can blossom. #ENGvIND
Advertisement— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 6, 2022
Rishabh Pant had actually started his career at the junior level as an opener only. He played as an opener even for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) when he first featured in the IPL, but as he made his way to the Indian national team, he was shifted to the middle order, as India needed power hitters down the order after the retirement of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni.
