In a move that raised a few eyebrows, India chose wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to open the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma in the 2nd ODI against the West Indies on February 9 in Ahmedabad.
Pant and Rohit walked out to bat after the West Indies stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl in the second match of the three-ODI series.
The Indian team management made a surprising move by dropping Ishan Kishan from the XI and bringing back KL Rahul, their vice-captain, in the XI, who had missed the first ODI due to personal reasons. Pant was asked to open the batting for India as Shikhar Dhawan is still recovering from Covid-19.
Pant was notable for being moved to No. 4 during the ODI series in South Africa in January, and he remained there in the first ODI against the West Indies on Sunday.
With a number of players vying for the opening spot, including Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Mayank Agarwal, India's decision to open with Pant in the second ODI was certainly unusual.
Pant threw away his wicket for 18 after batting out 34 deliveries in the middle, so the strategy failed. In the 12th over, Pant attempted a pull shot against Odean Smith, who had replaced Kieron Pollard, and was caught at fine leg.
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However, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes that India is conducting an experiment and that if it succeeds, the template could be used in next year's World Cup, which will be held in India.
"The first 10 overs is where India has been a bit slow in the past. They are looking to take advantage of the field restrictions in the first 10 overs. They are clearly looking to score maybe 60-70. That is what they are looking for. This is an experiment, make no mistake. If it works, that is the template that they will like to carry forward as they go on to the World Cup in India next year." Gavaskar, who was on-air on Star Sports during the 2nd ODI.
"It's something that will certainly look at. What it does also, if India is batting first, it will give him some time to recover. If he gets out in the 30th or 40th over, having done his job, he will get a little bit of break when he comes out to keep wickets."
Meanwhile, Gavaskar stated that the move is a way for the team management to communicate to Pant that they expect more runs from him at the top of the order on a consistent basis.
"It's may also mean they (the team management) is looking to give him a sense of responsibility at the top of the order. We have seen him charge down the pitch and get out in the past. Sending him up the order is a way of maybe telling him, ‘Listen we expect more runs from you'. We will find out how it all pans out," Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar also wondered if this meant Pant's role as a finisher in ODI cricket had changed.
"Who is going to be the finisher? I was thinking maybe Pant will get that role with the licence to throw his bat around at the end when he comes into bat in the last 10-15 overs, provided the team has got off a very good start," he added.
India made just 237/9 in their 50 overs with Suryakumar Yadav making a fifty and KL Rahul making 49.
