Australian cricket great Shane Warne on Tuesday (12th February) came up with an interesting suggestion for Indian Cricket Team, saying India should open their batting with Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma to surprise the oppositions in the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England.
Warner further said that Rohit-Rishabh opening pair could be an X-factor for India in the World Cup 2019, saying the young wicket-keeper batsman is outstanding as a batsman as well.
Warne told India Today, “There has been talk if Rishabh Pant can play in the side. I think Dhoni and Pant both can play. I can't see why Rishabh Pant can't play as a batsman, he is outstanding. Maybe even open the batting with Rohit Sharma. I know Shikhar Dhawan does a great job but Rishabh Pant opening the batting with Rohit Sharma could be pretty cool too for India. Go with some of these X-factor type things and tactical battles, where you surprise the opposition.”
While Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit are one of the most successful ODI opening pairs in the game of cricket, the spin great believes that India could surprise many by fielding Pant as an opener in the World Cup 2019, and they can experiment it in the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia at home.
Warner explained, “It could be worth throwing Rishabh Pant at the top of the order for a couple of games and see how he goes. Maybe against Australia now [upcoming series] and experiment and see how he goes for the World Cup. Dhawan may have a role to play somewhere else. But I am really looking forward to seeing what India have because they have a lot of players who can do a lot of roles.”
Meanwhile, the cricket pundit also backed the World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni for the upcoming showpiece event, saying the Virat Kohli will need him in the team in England.
He added, “If you are going to win World Cups and I have been in a few and won a few, you need your best and most experienced players to perform. If they perform, you will win the World Cup. So, India need MS Dhoni to perform at his best in the World Cup. India need him in the team.”
Warne signed off by saying, “Dhoni has always done what is best for the team, whether it is bat at No. 4,5,6. Whatever the state of the game, the match situation, he will adapt. If you need 10 runs an over, he will adapt. He will do it, it's a proven fact. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. They need him in the team because he will deliver because he is class.”
(With India Today Inputs)
