Agencies
Mumbai: Senior Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan said that rising wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has become an asset for the team due to his ability to change the course of a game in no time.
Pant, recently adjudged the ICC’s Emerging Cricket of the Year, returns to the side for the T20Is against New Zealand starting on Wednesday, after being left out of the ODIs which India won 4-1.
The 21-year-old is being seen as a successor to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps and has already proved his worth as a batsman with stellar performances in England and Australia.
On the eve of the first T20I against the Black Caps, Dhawan had words of encouragement for the youngster.
“He is an aggressive batsman, an asset for the team, can take away games from opposition in a very short span of time. I hope he grabs this opportunity (in T20s) with both hands,” said Dhawan.
On the three-match assignment against the Kiwis, Dhawan said that it was important to end the tour on a high and carry that momentum into the home limited-overs series against Australia later this month.
The series comes as an opportunity for the youngsters to grab their spots in the team.
Also, it could lead to some much-needed rest for the seniors including Dhawan and skipper Rohit Sharma, as coach Ravi Shastri hinted after the fifth ODI.
“We too are humans and our bodies need a bit of rest. Of course, we would be looking to win the series and carry the momentum back home for the Australia series,” said Dhawan adding to his address on the eve of the game.
After this series, India host Australia for two T20Is and five ODIs starting February 24 in Visakhapatnam.
Dhawan was not among the runs in the last three ODIs of the five-match series and was caught at third man off a rising ball in the final ODI at Wellington.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
