New Delhi: Rishabh Pant was ‘extremely hurt’ when he did not make it to the India A squad last year during their tour to Australia. But he is likely to feel much better after being selected to the Indian team for the T20 series against England.
Pant’s selection is also a wake-up call for Ajinkya Rahane. The Delhi left-hander is a far more powerful striker of the ball and a busy player who can up the ante, which has been Rahane’s bane in the shortest format.
“Yes, I was hurt as I was not selected for the A tour of Australia. I had then decided that I will score as much runs possible so that no one is able to ignore me,” Pant said.
It was very difficult to ignore the prolific Roorkee boy, who scored 972 runs in Ranji Trophy at an astonishing strike-rate of 107.28 across nine games which included a triple hundred and the fastest first class hundred in Indian cricket.
His selection in the T20 team is an indication that he is being seriously looked at as MS Dhoni’s successor in shorter formats as Wriddhiman Saha still remains India’s first choice in Test matches.
Press Trust of India