Pant’s Surprise No.3 Spot
Last month, Team India surprised everyone when Rishabh Pant walked in at no.3 during their warm-up match against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. Initially perceived as an experimental move, Pant retained his position when India opened their campaign against Ireland, scoring an important unbeaten 36 to lead the team to an 8-wicket victory in New York.
Rohit Sharma’s Confirmation
As the team gears up for the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has almost confirmed that Pant will continue at no.3. “I had to look at Rishabh in the few games in IPL to make up my mind on where he will bat in the World Cup,” Rohit stated in the pre-match conference.
Pant’s Stellar IPL Performance
Pant’s strong performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) significantly influenced his selection. Returning to competitive cricket after a near-fatal car crash in December 2022, Pant led the Delhi Capitals as their highest run-scorer, amassing 446 runs in 14 matches at an impressive strike rate of 155.40. These performances were crucial for his selection in the T20 World Cup and his promotion to the first-choice wicketkeeper spot over Sanju Samson.
Historical Context
Interestingly, Pant was not part of the Indian XI when they last faced Pakistan in the T20 World Cup; veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik played in that game, which saw India secure a thrilling four-wicket win in Melbourne.
Pakistan’s Poor Form in T20 World Cup
Despite India’s historical edge over Pakistan in World Cups, Rohit Sharma emphasized that past records hold no bearing on the present. “Nothing changes. We have played them seven months back in the Asia Cup and (ODI) World Cup. But T20 is unpredictable. That’s what T20 cricket is all about,” Rohit remarked. He also pointed out that despite Pakistan’s loss to Zimbabwe in the last World Cup, they still made it to the final, underscoring the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)