World Cup 2019: Ashish Nehra lists 5 reasons to have Rishabh Pant in Indian squad

Former Indian quick and 2011 World Cup winner, Ashish Nehra has listed five reasons to include the Delhi Boy in the team for the mega event

Rishabh Pant has certainly evolved as one of the efficient cricketers who would touch new skies in the future. His potential in the red-ball cricket has already been tested and now, he is much-ahead in the World Cup squad race.

The Indian selectors are already palpating him to finalise his place on the flight to England. Meanwhile, former Indian quick and 2011 World Cup winner, Ashish Nehra has listed five reasons to include the Delhi Boy in the team for the mega event.

Nehra has tracked Pant's progress in Delhi and international cricket since he first joined the Sonnet Club. And thus, he churned out that the youngster is a pure match-winner, a back-up opener and an effortless six-hitter in the class of Rohit Sharma.

Here’re the five reasons:

Reason 1: Variety in the batting line-up

“If you look at India's batting line up, save Shikhar (Dhawan), there aren't any left-handers in the top seven. You need variety with a left-right combination, where Rishabh perfectly fits,” said Nehra.

Reason 2: Pant can be used as a ‘floater’

Nehra ji believes that Rishabh can bat at any position between Nos 1 to 7 and so Virat (Kohli) and the team management can use him as a floater, who could bat successfully at any position.

Reason 3: Pant’s hard-hitting skills

The third reason cited by Nehra was Pant's ability to hit sixes effortlessly from the word go. Nehra said the fearless approach comes in handy in pressure situations. “If it comes to effortlessly hit sixes, Rishabh comes second only to Rohit Sharma with his big-hitting ability. India will need that in abundance during the World Cup,” Nehra said.

Reason 4: the match-finisher hidden in Pant

And last but not the least, Nehra felt Pant has shown the ability to win matches singlehandedly. “No disrespect, this team has three clear match-winners and they are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. For me, the fourth one is going to be Rishabh Pant,” said Nehra.

Reason 5: The X-factor

“Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik are all fantastic players but they are all in the same mould. You need X-factor which this boy possesses,” said Nehra.