Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull has suggested a new batting position for the Indian keeper-batter Rishabh Pant for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Doull believes that the star keeper-batter shouldn’t be confined to the middle order but should instead be promoted to the number 3 position in the batting line-up.
Well, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant appears to be a strong contender for a place in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024. His outstanding performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 suggests that he is likely to secure the role of the first-choice wicketkeeper for the team in the upcoming mega event.
Simon Doull Wants Rishabh Pant To Take Virat Kohli’s Position In Batting Line-Up
Rishabh Pant’s resurgence in the IPL 2024 after a challenging setback has been remarkable. His aggressive batting style has been on full display, carrying the Delhi Capitals’ batting lineup with authority. In a standout performance against the Gujarat Titans, Pant’s explosive innings of 88 runs off just 43 balls propelled his team to a formidable total exceeding 220, securing a crucial victory.
With a total of 342 runs, Pant currently ranks as the third-highest run-scorer in the IPL 2024 season. Reports circulating suggest that his stellar form has solidified his position as the preferred wicketkeeper-batsman for the Indian Team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled for June.
Simon Doull thinks Rishabh Pant should bat at number three instead of his usual lower-order position. He believes Pant is more than just a big hitter and can play a more strategic role in the team’s batting lineup. He said:
“He’s getting closer. Can he bat at 3? Because I go back to the team I’m looking at (for the T20 World Cup), and he doesn’t fit in the middle-order. If he can, he’s getting a step closer to the boarding pass. He’s a better player than a slogger or hitter. He comes, and he eases his way into his innings.”
Further, Doull praised Rishabh Pant as a fantastic player and emphasized that he’s not just a big hitter who swings at every ball. Doull suggested that Pant should come to bat after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, indicating that he’s capable of playing a more strategic role in the batting lineup. He said:
“That’s why I say he’s a terrific Test player. He’s a fine batter. But I don’t think he’s a player who comes out and starts slogging, not in modern-day T20 cricket. That’s why his numbers aren’t nowhere near as good as they possibly should. So, my question is, could he bat at 3 behind the skipper and Virat (Kohli)?”
While Rishabh Pant is expected to be the primary wicketkeeper in the team, the battle for the backup wicketkeeper position is between KL Rahul and Sanju Samson
