Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull is not convinced that Rishabh Pant is the best white ball wicketkeeper batter for India. Pant hasn’t been able to grab his chances in the limited-overs format and thus his place has come under the scanner.
Pant has taken Test cricket like fish to water but it has not been the same story for him in the white ball formats so far. On the other hand, Sanju Samson has scored 330 runs in 11 ODI matches at an average of 66 and a strike rate of 104.76 and thus there is no doubt that he deserves consistent chances in the final XI.
However, Samson was dropped in the second ODI against New Zealand as India played Deepak Hooda to give themselves one more bowling option.
Doull feels India can give opportunities to players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, who haven’t got a longer rope as compared with Rishabh Pant.
“Rishabh Pant’s record is a decent sample size. He has played just under 30 games and only averages 35, the strike rate is good. But Sanju in 11 games is averaging 60-something. And I don’t think he is any less of a wicketkeeper. I just think he deserves an opportunity as well,” Doull said on Cricbuzz while talking to Harsha Bhogle.
“The Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson debate is an interesting one for me. There is so much talk about Rishabh Pant, and how he is the future. But in white-ball formats, he hasn’t quite done it. Unbelievable Test player, and he is a shoo-in in Tests as the wicketkeeper-batter, no issue with that? But is he the best white-ball keeper batter? I am not convinced,” he pointed out.
There is no doubt that Pant hasn’t done enough in the limited overs format and he will need to deliver for the team in order to keep his place in the final XI.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson would also want to grab his opportunities for the national team. Samson has been a proven campaigner in the IPL but he needs to be more consistent in the domestic circuit.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played on Wednesday.
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