ENG vs IND: Wasim Jaffer wants Rishabh Pant to open for India in T20Is

Former Indian cricketer and domestic heavyweight Wasim Jaffer has opined that the Indian management should go with Rishabh Pant as one of the openers against the England team for the T20I series.  The Men in Blue under the leadership of Rohit Sharma will take on The Three Lions in a three-match T20I series starting on July 7 (Thursday).

Rishabh Pant had a good outing against England in the rescheduled Test match as he stroked an excellent hundred in the first innings and followed it up by a fifty in the second innings. In the first innings, Pant came in to bat when India had not even crossed the 100-run mark and had lost half of their side.

However, the left-handed batter and star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja played counter-attacking shots to put the pressure back on England. Pant played an equally vital knock during the second innings of the match as he, along with senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara, stroked an excellent fifty. However, that was not enough for India to win against a changed England batting order.

I think that’s the spot where he can blossom: Jaffer on Pant opening for India in T20Is

“Indian think tank should think about opening with Rishabh Pant in T20Is. I think that’s the spot where he can blossom,” Jaffer wrote on Twitter.

Indian think tank should think about opening with Rishabh Pant in T20Is. I think that's the spot where he can blossom. #ENGvIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 6, 2022

Talking about the England vs India T20I series, the first match will be played on Thursday. Team India will be without the services of Jadeja and former Indian skipper Virat Kohli as they will join the Indian squad after the first game. However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma will be available and most probably open for the Men in Blue.

Another left-handed batter Ishan Kishan is also a prime contender to open with Rohit. Meanwhile, Team England will be led by senior batter Jos Buttler as England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan has taken retirement from international cricket. Buttler was in emphatic touch against the Netherlands recently and will like to continue his good form against India as well.