Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa believes Rishabh Pant will be a huge player in T20 cricket over the course of the next 10 years. Pant hasn’t yet grabbed his chances with the bat in the T20I format like the way he has done in the Test version of the game.
Uthappa feels Pant should bat in the top order in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The left-hander was given his chance in the match against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup and also played ahead of Dinesh Karthik in the semi-final clash against England but didn’t get to face a lot of deliveries.
Meanwhile, Pant has all the skills to turn the match on its head and he has the skills to hit the ground running. Pant has scored 970 runs in 64 T20I matches at an average of 23.1 and a strike rate of 127.3. However, the left-hander has produced better numbers in the IPL as he has amassed 2838 runs in 98 games at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 147.97.
Robin Uthappa said while talking to Sportskeeda, “Rishabh Pant should open the innings in the New Zealand series, he should definitely play at the top of the order. I think in T20 cricket, that’s where he has been at his best and that is where he will thrive going forward as well.”
Uthappa continued: “He is a match-winner, a game-changer, and he can easily win matches for India single-handedly with his batting. I think he will be a huge player in T20 cricket over the course of the next ten years.”
On the other hand, Mohammad Kaif showered praise on Shubman Gill. Kaif added that Gill has got the gift of timing. The former Indian batter feels Gill and Rishabh Pant should open the innings in the series against New Zealand.
Kaif told the same website, “Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant should open the innings for India in the New Zealand series. I rate Gill very highly, the form he is in, the way his last five-six months have gone, he has been exceptional, calm and composed. When he plays, it does not look like he puts too much power into his shots, he has been given the gift of timing.”
“He played really well for the Gujarat Titans as well, he looks confident and in very good touch. He has piled on runs this year, he has a first-class average of 50-60. So, all of the eyes on this tour will be certainly on Shubman Gill.”
As Gill delivered the goods for Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he earned his maiden call-up to the T20I setup.
“He was not considered for T20Is before, he was only playing ODIs till now. Because his form has been good of late, he was rewarded with this call-up.”
India will take on New Zealand at Wellington on Friday.
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