Rishabh Pant raring to go in ODI series against Windies

Rishabh Pant is raring to go in the upcoming ODI series against the Windies, which will be his first outing for Team India in the 50-over format. Pant will not be donning the gloves this time as he’s done in the Tests since MS Dhoni is still India’s premier gloveman and is available for limited-overs cricket. But the youngster will look to make a telling impact if and when he receives his maiden ODI cap.

Although they have a solid top order, India have been struggling to find a no.4 batsman. The middle order, in general, has looked unsettled, and Pant’s entry to the side could give him the license to play the finisher’s role. Dhoni, although hailed as one of the best finishers in the game, hasn’t made too many contributions down the order. Pant has already proved himself in the IPL, and even in the 5 Test matches he’s played, he’s batted in T20-esque fashion, clubbing balls for big hits and scoring with a sense of urgency.

Chance for Pant to cement his ODI spot

This will be the perfect opportunity for the 21-year old to cement in India’s ODI setup prior to their tour of Australia and subsequently the World Cup which takes place in England next year. Pant is the new age cricketer – he’s got age on his side, and his numbers speak for themselves. Although his average can improve significantly, the left-hander maintains a strike rate of 105 in List A cricket.

A couple of days ahead of the ODIs against the Windies getting underway, he took to Twitter to say, “Always ready to give my 100 per cent on a cricket field. Cannot wait to take on the West Indies in the first ODI on Sunday! #IndiaVsWestIndies #comingup”

Always ready to give my 100 per cent on a cricket field. Cannot wait to take on the West Indies in the first ODI on Sunday! #IndiaVsWestIndies #comingup pic.twitter.com/cTyXnLEGuj

— Rishabh Pant (@RishabPant777) October 19, 2018

The first ODI will be hosted by Guwahati, following which the series moves down south to Vishakhapatnam. Pune and Mumbai will be the stage for the third and fourth ODIs respectively, with Thiruvananthapuram set to hold the final encounter. The two teams will also clash in a 3-match T20I series.

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