Former Indian team fielding coach R Sridhar has said that he was happy seeing Rishabh Pant opening the innings in the recent second T20I against England and said that he hopes it could be a watershed moment for the Indian team.
Rishabh Pant opened for the first time in T20I cricket during India's 49-run win over England in the 2nd of a three-match T20I series in Birmingham on Saturday. He replaced Ishan Kishan in the playing XI and walked out to open with captain Rohit Sharma. The left-hander hit 26 off just 15 balls as India raced to 49 for no loss inside the 5th over.
Sridhar said the wicketkeeper-batter has the ability to inculcate fear in the opposition camp and take the attention off the other end.
"Hopefully, it's going to be a watershed moment like it happened in 1994 when someone put Mr. Tendulkar at the top. I think to start with, a left-hander at the top is very, very important. He can make bowling ridiculously silly, and he will walk the talk like Rohit is doing.
He will play the way he would want the team to play. He will put off the bowling unit. He will create fear and all the bowlers will focus on him. It will open up the other end," Sridhar said on Sony Sports.
India will look to complete a 3-0 sweep of England when they take on Jos Buttler's men in the 3rd and final T20I in Nottingham on Sunday, July 10.
