WI vs IND 2022: I am not in favour of Rishabh Pant opening; he is India’s pivotal player – Reetinder Sodhi

Former Indian all-rounder Reetinder Sodhi said he doesn’t like the idea of Rishabh Pant opening the innings in T20I format. Pant was given a chance to open the innings in the two T20Is against England but he could not grab his opportunities despite getting off to a start.

The left-hander also could only manage 14 runs in the first T20I against the West Indies while batting at number four. Pant hasn’t been able to grab his opportunities in T20 cricket but he had recently scored a match-winning knock of 125 runs of just 113 balls against England in the third ODI.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that Pant has the skills to turn the match on its head with the help of his pyrotechnics. However, he needs to be consistent in the shortest format of the game.

The southpaw has scored 629 runs in 51 T20I matches for India at an average of 22.34 and a strike rate of 124.32 and thus he hasn’t been at his best.

Sodhi reckons India will need Pant when the game gets tight in the fag end of the innings.

Sodhi told India News: “I am not in favour of Rishabh Pant opening. He is India’s pivotal player. India need him when the game gets tight in the 15th-16th over. You can better utilise him in the middle overs. He can take on the spinners and seamers as well.”

“I am not saying Pant cannot play the new ball, but India have better options for the top order. Ishan Kishan must open in all the four remaining games.”

Meanwhile, India has been experimenting a lot at the top of the order. Players like Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav have opened the innings with Rohit Sharma in the recent past. However, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar believes India should put paid to all the experimenting at the top of the order.

Rajkumar Sharma said, “Rishabh Pant has opened in some recent games. These experiments should end. There has to be some clarity over who India should open with. The team management and selectors need to be on the same page. There is not a lot of time left. We all know what happened with the No.4 slot in 2019 (during the 50-over World Cup). India need to be sure who will be open if KL Rahul is unfit.”

On the other hand, former India wicket-keeper batter Saba Karim believes either Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan can open the innings in the second T20I against West Indies.

“Either Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan could open in the second T20I. Pant opened in England, and if he is in India’s plans to bat at the top, he needs to be given a chance in at least 4-5 games. I feel Rohit and Dravid want to accommodate him at 4 because he has done well there, but they will have to pick one from Pant or Kishan to open.”