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Seeing the way Rishabh Pant is batting in the nets in Dubai, chief selector Ajit Agarkar has backed the idea of pushing the Delhi wicket-keeper batter into the playing XI of the Champions Trophy. Sources said Agarkar has also spoken to coach Gautam Gambhir about including Pant at some point of the event and even told Pant to stay ready.
However, the team management is extremely confused as to where Pant could be accommodated into the playing XI, as KL Rahul has the coach’s backing. Gambhir, who was against Pant’s inclusion even in the 15-member squad, had taken a tough stance against Pant for not showing consistency in white ball cricket and hadn’t included him in any of the ODI matches against England.
Sources said that Gambhir is also changing his thought process gradually after intervention from Agarkar. With captain Rohit Sharma also not in a great position to dictate terms because of Gambhir’s constant influence on the playing XI, Agarkar is seen to be pushing the captain’s requirement.
This also means, Rohit is also in favour of Pant simply because of his match-winning abilities. “How the team management is going to accommodate Pant is a million dollar question?” a source told CricBlogger.
Earlier, Pant’s place in the playing XI during the last Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney was also a contentious point in the team management. Looking at the way things are happening right now, it must have been Agarkar and Rohit who may have pushed Pant’s continuity in red ball ahead of Dhruv Jurel, who was in contention to take Pant’s place.
“Pant is a match-winner, it will be a grave mistake to keep him away from the playing XI,” the source said while adding that even the whole of Delhi cricket was supporting Pant to be in the playing XI and not exactly convinced with Gambhir’s way of leaving out a match-winner.
