What happens to Rishabh Pant when Saha gets fit? Manjrekar and Agarkar put forth their views

Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten hundred at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Day two of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia. Needless to say, the ton is being praised and celebrated by all Indian fans. Did he just cement his place in the Indian side? Discussing a real issue on Match Day, Indian cricket experts Ajjit Agarkar and Sanjay Manjarekar gave their views on the Saha-Pant conundrum. A very heavy question was thrown to the pundits- ” What happens to Pant when and if Wriddhiman Saha is fit?”

The last time Wriddhiman Saha donned the Indian whites was in January 2018 when South Africa toured India. His long sustained shoulder injury came to the light in mid-year in 2018. In around September, before the England tour, it was clear that it would take another four to five months for Saha to be fully fit.

Perhaps, Rishabh Pant made his debut after Dinesh Karthik failed to impress in England and has performed decently. His unbeaten knock of 159 was his second Test hundred. Besides, he has scored a handful of half-centuries as well. Pant’s average speaks for him as he’s a better Test batsman than Saha. But the 34-year-old from Bengal is famous for his extraordinary wicket-keeping skills.

Views of the Pundits

Initially perplexed by the question, Sanjay Manjrekar, while speaking to ESPNCricinfo, said that wicket-keeping is a skill that’s of utmost significance in Test Cricket. Since Wriddhiman Saha is the better wicketkeeper, he would want him in the team.

Ajit Agarkar, however, contradicted with Sanjay’s thoughts and added that at no cost would he drop Rishabh Pant. According to him, Saha could be an asset on turning tracks where catches behind the stumps become really important for the game. But Agarkar also went on to mention that the sample size according to which Pant is being judged is too small.

The pundits added that Wriddhiman had taken the world by storm after how he met the wicketkeeping standards set by MS Dhoni. Yet again, fate and uncertainties have a huge role to play in Cricket. And not just Saha, but all cricketers have to go by the rules of fate.

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