India's stand-in skipper Shikhar Dhawan opened up about the team management's decision to back Rishabh Pant throughout the New Zealand tour despite his recent poor batting performances after the third and final ODI was washed out on Wednesday (November 30) in Christchurch.
Dhawan said that Pant is a proven match-winner and that’s why he has been getting the backing from the Indian cricket team management when he is going through a tough time with the bat.
He further admitted that Sanju Samson always performed well whenever he got the opportunity, but he will have to wait for his chances. Notably, Samson got only one game on the New Zealand tour.
Shikhar Dhawan said at the post-match interaction: “Overall, you have to see the larger picture and who is your match winner. You analyze and your decisions are based on that.”
He added, “Of course, Sanju Samson has been doing really well in whatever opportunity he got. 'But sometimes you got to wait for your chances, because the other player has done well and we know based on Pant's skill that he's a match-winner. So, you need to back him when he's not doing well.”
Meanwhile, India won the T20I series with a 1-0 margin after two matches hampered by the rain, and in a similar scenario, New Zealand won the ODI series with a 1-0 margin on Wednesday.
The stand-in skipper said, “It's frustrating. We can't control rain. But yes, we got opportunities, and got a chance to discuss our flaws, where we can improve. We discuss all that and analyze.”
Dhawan signed off by saying, “The team bonding will be our biggest positive. The main team will now play in Bangladesh. But if one or two may get injured, this experience will come handy there. The young players from this series will get a chance.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said that India is blessed with so much talent. He said the post-match presser, “The Indian team and the country is blessed with so much talent that sometimes you are faced with challenges that you have to weigh out different options.”
Williamson concluded, “It's sometimes tough, it's a challenge, but one of those things. As a leader you are part of some decision-making, you try to move forward as a collective unit.”
(With PTI Inputs)
