Brad Hogg backs Pant to replace Shreyas or Samson in India's ODI and T20I squad

Hogg was impressed with Pant's recent performance in Australia.

Rishabh Pant was dropped from India's limited-overs squads after Sri Lanka series | AFP

Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg believes that Rishabh Pant deserves to get his place back in India’s limited-overs teams having proved himself with couple of magnificent knocks in the recent historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia.

Pant wasn’t picked for the white-ball series against Australia but got to play in the four-Test series and the left-hander managed to prove his worth with his performance when Team India needed him the most on the crucial tour. However, Pant was overlooked for Wriddhiman Saha in the Adelaide Test, Ajinkya Rahane backed the young wicketkeeper-batsman and picked him for the last three Tests.

The 23-year-old scored 97 in Sydney Test to help India escape with a memorable draw to justify his selection and then produce more heroics with the bat, hitting 89* in the final Test to help India breach Australia’s fortress 'The Gabba' by thrashing the hosts by 3 wickets and clinch Test series 2-1.

Having impressed with his performance in Australia, Hogg has called for Pant’s inclusion in the Indian Cricket Team, saying the Delhi lad should replace either Shreyas Iyer or Sanju Samson in the limited-overs squads, given his ability to play unconventional shots that makes him difficult to bowl to.

Read Also: AUS v IND 2020-21: ‘He will definitely improve’, Wriddhiman Saha on Rishabh Pant’s keeping skills

Hogg on his YouTube channel: “I would be putting him there (in ODIs and T20Is) right now because he has got the confidence and the belief. He has proven himself with two match-winning knocks in this Test series.”

He further added, “You can't get better than that playing for India on Australian soil. I would put him in place of (Shreyas Iyer). Keep your all-round options there for batting and bowling depth. He will be there for either Iyer or Sanju Samson. He is hard to bowl to because he plays a variety of shots that are different from any other batsman. Get him in there.”

Noteworthy, Pant last played a limited-overs game for India in January last year against Sri Lanka and was dropped from the ODI & T20I squads for the Australian tour following his poor IPL 2020 season in the UAE.

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 23 Jan, 2021

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