Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, has made headlines after the BCCI’s medical team allowed him to play for the Delhi Capitals in the 2018 IPL season.
After a fourteen-month rehab journey, Rishabh Pant, aged 26, is back following severe injuries from a December 2022 accident. This comeback is exciting news for cricket enthusiasts. It raises hopes of his World Cup inclusion, the T20 event occurring in June.
Indian fans rejoice at this development. Rishabh Pant’s return potentially strengthens the national squad for the upcoming major tournament. His recovery is remarkable, overcoming multiple setbacks from that near-fatal crash.
We look at three reasons why Rishabh Pant is the missing piece in India’s T20 World Cup puzzle:
1. He can provide lower-order ammunition
If India choose to play Rishabh Pant in the middle or lower order, he may come in and play his strokes with reckless abandon, like he has done throughout his career.
With the openers and hitters in the top order confidence enough to play their strokes and generate a run rate that will benefit those who follow, Rishabh Pant will be the appropriate guy to take up the role. He can strike the ball a big distance and clear the ropes effortlessly.
Rishabh Pant will come in useful for India when he faces bowlers in the slog overs and attempts to score some fast runs.
2. His being a left-hander helps
Pant’s biggest benefit to India is that he is a left-hander in a batting lineup dominated by righties. Every time he comes out to bat, rival bowlers will have to adjust their lines, and captains will have to change their field configurations.
This will help both Pant and India since the former will profit from some loose and erratic bowling that is unavoidable when batters shift over. Pant’s diverse offerings will benefit India.
3. Rishabh Pant wicketkeeping skills will be needed
Although Jitesh Sharma and KL Rahul were selected as specialist wicketkeepers for India when Pant was unavailable, the latter’s return to the squad will provide a significant boost behind the posts.
Pant wasn’t the most skilled wicketkeeper initially. Still, he worked tirelessly, enhancing his abilities significantly over time. His dedication led to remarkable progress in his game.
The Delhi keeper has performed admirably against spinners in particular, and his abilities will be greatly required by India at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
