Former Indian cricketer Reetinder Singh Sodhi said that he isn’t in favor of Rishabh Pant opening for Team India in the remaining matches of the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Notably, India surprised all by sending Surykumar Yadav to open alongside the skipper Rohit Sharma in the first T20I that the touring side won by 68 runs against the West Indies.
Pant has been used as an opener in T20Is on England tour and is likely to return to the top in the second T20I against the West Indies, starting on Thursday (1 August) in St. Kitts.
However, Sodhi feels India has a lot of better options than Pant for the opening position and batted for Ishan Kishan to be given the role for the remaining four matches on the Caribbean tour.
Reetinder Singh Sodhi told India News: “I am not in favor of Rishabh Pant opening. He is India’s pivotal player. India needs him when the game gets tight in the 15th-16th over. You can better utilize him in the middle overs. He can take on the spinners and seamers as well.”
He added, “I am not saying Pant cannot play the new ball, but India has better options for the top order. Ishan Kishan must open in all the four remaining games.”
