Rishabh Pant has been the talk of the town ever since he was declared fit before IPL 2024. When Pant was deemed fit, the left-hander was almost certain to make it to the T20 World Cup squad. BCCI secretary Jay Shah said Pant would be a ‘big asset’ for Team India in the World Cup. However, it was important for the Delhi-based cricketer to have a good run with the bat in the IPL. And guess what? He did just that.
The Delhi Capitals skipper, who missed one game due to a suspension for a slow over-rate, amassed 446 runs in 13 innings, averaging 40.55 with a fine strike rate of 155.4. Pant finished the tournament with three half-centuries. His fitness and wicket-keeping skills were also impeccable throughout the competition.
The southpaw looked rusty at the start. After being out of action for more than a year, it was expected that Pant would take time to settle in. As the tournament progressed, Pant got better and better.
Ricky Ponting lauded Pant’s comeback, saying: “It’s been nothing short of spectacular, to be honest. I spent a few months with him in the middle of the IPL last year, which was only three or four months after his accident,” he said on The ICC Review.
With Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli at the top, India needed their wicket-keeper to bat in the middle order. Hence, choosing Pant as one of the two wicket-keeping options for the World Cup made absolute sense.
Now, the next challenge for Pant will be to overturn his fortunes in T20I cricket. He has already proven himself as a match-winner in Test cricket. However, his T20I career has been a different story.
With a career average around 22 and a strike rate that has often been inconsistent, Pant has struggled to replicate his domestic and Test success on the T20I stage. This format has been a challenge for him at the international level.
However, the past is behind us. It’s time for Pant to seize this opportunity and emerge as India’s biggest asset in the T20 World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh echoed this sentiment, saying, “I believe that Rishabh (Pant) has massive potential to win games for India, which he has done in the past, particularly in Test cricket. He is someone who I feel can be a match-winner on the big stage,” he said in an interview with the ICC.
His performances will be scrutinised, his every move analysed. This scrutiny is a double-edged sword; it can spur him to greatness or weigh him down. The onus is on Pant to turn this pressure into a driving force and prove his critics wrong.
The team has struggled with middle-order stability in T20Is, often relying on top-order firepower. Pant’s return adds depth to the batting line-up and provides a left-handed option in the middle order, crucial for disrupting opposition bowling plans. His ability to accelerate the scoring rate and play unorthodox shots can be the X-factor India needs to win crucial matches.
The World Cup offers him a platform to showcase his abilities against the best in the world and in high-pressure situations, which is where legends are made. Performing well in this tournament can significantly boost his confidence and establish him as a mainstay in India’s T20 setup.