Virender Sehwag (former India opening batsman) put to question about the absence of wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant from India’s playing XI in ongoing India’s tour of New Zealand.
Rishabh Pant, being an all format wicket-keeper batsman for India last year found himself a place in the squad. But now he is out of the playing XI across all the formats.
Wriddhiman Saha(an Indian cricketer who plays Test matches for India) regained the wicketkeeping duties in the concluded home season. Lokesh Rahul who is scoring big-time in white-ball formats made him an automatic choice for ODIs and T20Is
Rishabh Pant is not even getting a chance as a specialist batsman in the T20I series against New Zealand. This is causing people to feel that it has not gone well for Pant and it is not done well.
Manish Pandey( batsman ), who is part of the last ODI against Australia in Bengaluru ahead of Pant, continued to do the same in the T20Is against New Zealand. Pandey justified the move by successfully scoring a half-century in the last match in Wellington.
After gaining a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. India gave an opportunity to Sanju Samson. Out of the ordinary, Sanju had warmed the bench when Pant was being a specialist keeper.
Virender Sehwag Enquires about Rishabh Pant’s absence
During a talk show (on Cricbuzz) Sehwag laid attention on giving more opportunities to Pant as he has overall of 410 runs to his name in 28 T20Is and an average of 20.50 and a strike rate of 121.66.
Sehwag asked, why Rishabh Pant is left out? (In question) Sehwag said that their captain used to go and have a conversation with every player. He wanted to know if Virat Kohli being the team captain is doing it or not. Sehwag also quoted that when Rohit Sharma went to Aisa Cup as a Captian and he used to talk with all his players.