Former India leader and Delhi Capitals cricketing chief Sourav Ganguly expressed confidence on Monday. He was “sure” about Rishabh Pant’s spot in India’s team for the 2024 T20 World Cup happening in June across the USA and West Indies.
Pant returned to competitive cricket in the IPL 2024 after more than a year off with major injuries. The left-hander took some time to shake off the rust, but currently has 254 runs from eight games at an average of 36.29 and a strike rate of 150.30. His ball-striking ability has not yet seemed totally perfected.
“I want every young player to play,” Sourav Ganguly said in a special media interaction organized by DC. “Unfortunately, with cricket, you can only pick 15. It happens in sports, the most equipped and the better ones play. Pant is definitely in the bracket. And I am sure he’ll go to the West Indies.”
Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly declined to provide a view on the best position for Pant to bat for India, claiming that it will depend on the match-ups and circumstances. However, he made his choice of openers apparent, stating:
“I feel both (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) will go to the West Indies and both should go to the West Indies. And if you ask me, it’s just my personal opinion, and I am not saying selectors should go for it because at the end of the day it’s their call and Rohit’s call — Rohit and Virat should open.”
Sourav Ganguly
He also stated that IPL success should not be the sole criterion for national selection, as a good squad has a “balance of youth and experience.”
When reminded of the 2007 T20 World Cup, in which veteran Indian players gave way to a new team that dominated the event, Ganguly retorted with examples of England fast bowler James Anderson and MS Dhoni. He said:
“There’s nothing about young and old. It’s about how good you are. How does Jimmy Anderson play? It’s Test cricket but he’s a fast-bowler bowling 30-31 overs at 41 years of age. There’s no hard and fast rule for it. The only hard and fast rule is talent. You look at MS Dhoni, he bats for 2 overs and hits four sixes.”
Sourav Ganguly
The former captain noted that the most essential thing for India in the showpiece competition would be to play fearlessly.
Sourav Ganguly Discusses Impact Player Rule’s Impact on All-Rounders
During the conversation, Sportskeeda also asked Sourav Ganguly about his thoughts on the Impact Player rule and how it affected all-rounders who were no longer able to use both of their strengths in the IPL. He said that it was an issue of quality, with the “majority of good” all-rounders still making the playing 11.
“Some of them are still playing. Axar is playing for us, Jadeja plays for Chennai, Hardik plays for Mumbai, Nitish Reddy plays for Hyderabad he’s in the game straightaway, Russell is in the game straightaway, Narine is in the game straightaway. It’s not always the case. The majority of good players still find a place in the 11. It’s about how good you are.”
Sourav Ganguly
DC is currently ninth in the IPL 2024 points table, having won three of their eight matches.