the former India Fielding coach R Sridhar feels Rishabh Pant’s inauguration in T20 is going to be a turning point in Indian cricket, which happened earlier in 1994. Sachin Tendulkar Was told to start the innings. In recent times, several former cricketers and critics have suggested that India should use Pant as an opener in the shortest format to make the most of his talent. The team management took a big step during the second T20I against England where Pant opened the innings with Rohit Sharma.
Team India is going through a transitional phase and is trying to adopt a new fearless approach in the T20I format. In the first two matches against England, the Indian batsmen played with a fresh approach, which was completely different from the previous teams.
Read also | IND vs ENG: In no time, we felt he was panicking – Rohit Sharma praises ‘calm and collective’ Jadeja
Pant and Rohit shared a 49-run stand for the opening wicket as they took their hands on the English bowlers in the powerplay. The southpaw scored 26 off 15 balls in his first stint as an Indian opener.
Sridhar points to similarities in the move that happened in 1994 when Tendulkar, batting in the middle order, was promoted to open the innings to provide balance to the line-up.
“Hopefully it will be a historic moment like 1994 when someone put Mr Tendulkar on top,” Sridhar told Sony Sports.
Read also | IND vs ENG: MS Dhoni talks to the members of Team India, Ishan Kishan ‘sabka’ | see photos
The former India fielding coach said that Pant has the talent to fool the bowling and he can make a solid pair with skipper Rohit.
“I think to start with, a left-handed batsman at the top is very important. He can make bowling ridiculously silly and he will talk like Rohit.”
Sridhar further said that using Pant as an opener will benefit the batsman at the other end as the primary focus of the bowler will be on the wicket-keeper batsman.
He said, ‘He will play the way he wants the team to play. He will shut down the bowling unit. He will create fear and all bowlers will pay attention to him. This will open the other end,” said Sridhar.
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos And cricket score Here