Seeing Indian batsmen struggle against the moving ball in the ongoing Test series in England, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels India should hand debut to Rishabh Pant in third Test at Trent Bridge, starting on August 18.
The Delhi stumper earned his maiden call-up in the Test squad after regular keeper Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out for about six-four months because of a shoulder surgery. But Gavaskar is of the opinion that there is no harm in picking Pant as a specialist batsman.
“It is an opportunity for sure and for the third Test he might get into the team. In fact, he might get in the team as a batsman down the order rather than as a wicket-keeper,” Sunil Gavaskar was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express.
Gavaskar further stated that Pant is definitely the future of Indian cricket and the team management must invest in players like him.
“He certainly is in the frame, the fact that he was chosen ahead of everybody else the moment (Wriddhiman) Saha was declared unfit, just tells you the thinking of the selection committee and team management,” the former Indian captain cited.
Pant scored three half-centuries turning up for India A prior to the Test series including a patient 67 that caught the eye of India A head coach Rahul Dravid.
"On this trip, we challenged him a lot to bat according to the situation. He got a critical 64 not out in the One-Day tri-series final (England Lions) when he was the last recognised batsman.
"And also against West Indies A, he put on a 100 run partnership with Jayant Yadav (in successful fourth innings run chase)," Dravid said, putting his weight firmly behind the southpaw.