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Till Monday, Rishabh Pant was in the fray to play Delhi’s last Ranji Trophy league match against the Railways at the Ferozeshah Kotla from January 30 but the national selectors told him to rest, BCCI sources told CricBlogger.
It seems the selectors are being cautious about Pant’s workload after his return to cricket following the hectic Australian tour. Although playing in a crucial Ranji Trophy game would have been a great boost for Delhi and also help Pant run into form again, the national selectors seem to be prioritizing his rest, as he has complained about his swelling knee, and recovery for more significant international fixtures.
The decision reflects the “horses for courses” approach, where the national selectors are prioritizing international cricket over domestic commitments. For a player like Pant, whose value lies heavily in India’s international setup, playing a Ranji Trophy game with limited impact on the outcome seems unnecessary, especially when managing his workload and fitness is critical.
But there is also a school of thought that the whole exercise is an appearance act at domestic cricket is more of a hogwash, a knee-jerk reaction after India lost BGT to Australia. Even out-of-form Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill aren’t playing the next round of the Ranji games like Pant.
Considering Pant’s unique skill set and importance in India’s long-term plans, it’s logical for the selectors to focus on keeping him fresh for more significant matches like upcoming ODI series against England and Champions Trophy. His absence might disappoint some domestic fans, but it aligns with the broader goal of sustaining his peak performance for India.
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