‘Rishabh Pant Is A Test Player, Not T20 Material’ – Simon Doull Against DC Captain’s T20 World Cup 2024 Selection

Rishabh Pant dazzled with the bat as Delhi Capitals outshone Gujarat Titans in a thrilling IPL 2024 face-off on Wednesday, April 24. The DC skipper hammered an unbeaten 88 runs from just 43 balls, including 5 boundaries and 8 sixes.

Rishabh Pant’s knock got people talking about whether he will make it to India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Some reckon he is a top contender, but ex-NZ cricketer Simon Doull thinks he doesn’t fit in the middle order and wishes he could bat at No. 3.

Here’s what Simon Doull told Cricbuzz:

“He’s getting closer. Can he bat at 3? Because I go back to the team I’m looking at (for T20 World Cup), and he doesn’t fit in the middle order. If he can, he’s getting a step closer to the boarding pass,” Doull said on Cricbuzz.”

Rishabh Pant’s Records in T20 Cricket Aren’t Very Impressive: Simon Doull

According to Simon Doull, Rishabh Pant’s style leans more towards Test cricket than T20, as he takes his time to settle before going for big hits. Doull also questioned whether Pant, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma set to open for Team India, could adapt to batting at number three.

“He’s a better player than a slogger or hitter. He comes, and he eases his way into his innings. That’s why I say he’s a terrific Test player. He’s a fine batter. But I don’t think he’s a player who comes out and starts slogging, not in modern-day T20 cricket.”

“That’s why his numbers aren’t anywhere near as good as they possibly should be. So, my question is, could he bat at 3 behind the skipper and Virat (Kohli)?” he added.

Apart from Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, and Dinesh Karthik are also in contention for the wicket-keeper batter spot, the only position up for grabs in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.