Can we take a punt on Pant?

Before the third test at Trent Bridge, the dominating debate has been the method which Team India would adopt in countering the English, and the primary suggestions from all quarters have been to make changes to the seemingly floundering middle order. But, is that the main problem in the batting department, I beg to disagree (read my previous post). Changes are good, and Virat Kohli has tinkered with his Playing XI everytime he has walked out for a toss for a Test Match. Never in his last 38 matches as Captain has he retained his side, and chances are, may not do so going by the results in the last two matches. So who does he bring in? Is he going to take a punt on Rishabh Pant? Er..that rhymes...might turn out good eventually. England might be ill prepared for a Rishabh Pant. He might be useful, a la Dhoni in an aggressive avatar. We have missed Dhoni's service in the longest format and perhaps Pant was the logical successor after all !

Rishabh Pant has had a superlative IPL just months ago, and has struck form in the domestic circuit whenever has been able to have a go. Being a left handed batsman adds a new dimension to the middle order. Pant has a first class average of a little in excess of 54 with a strike rate of 95.24. So he is aggressive, and perhaps the perfect foil for Team India's tail. Age is also on his side, so he could be a long term option. The other options in Saha, Parthiv and Karthik are all moving towards the wrong side of 30s. The only thing that perhaps goes against him is the lack of experience! Is he ready? What if he fails? Well, as they say, if he is good enough to be in the side, why not the playing XI? I even recommend him to be picked ahead of Hardik Pandya. Pick an extra batsman in Karun Nair or retain Karthik and plant Pant at 7. Plant Pant...eh...that rhymes somewhat again !! England would be wary of Pant's aggressive overtones, and perhaps that might help the other batsmen and the team as a whole. I have not seen his wicketkeeping in this format, and even if he is a work in progress, so be it. Remember Dhoni in his early days? Those days he had more followers of his hairstyle than his keeping. Ofcourse, MSD is MSD. Wish he was still in the side to nurture a young keeper.

It would be wonderful if Rishabh Pant can replicate his first class numbers in the Trent Bridge test. He could be the answer to the perennial search for Dhoni's long term successor in the Test XI.