Rishabh Pant opening in ODIs an experiment, India will look to carry template forward it if works: Sunil Gavaskar

In a move that helped raise quite a few eyebrows, India got wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to open the innings along with captain Rohit Sharma in the 2nd ODI against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 9. Pant walked out to bat with his skipper after the West Indies won the toss and oped to bowl in their must-win game of the 3-match series.

It was a surprising move from the Indian team management as they had dropped Ishan Kishan from the XI and brought back KL Rahul, their vice-captain, who missed out on the 1st ODI due to personal reasons. With Shikhar Dhawan still not available for selection after recovering from Covid-19, Pant was asked to open the batting for India for the first time in ODIs.

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Notably, Pant was moved to the No. 4 spot during the ODI series in South Africa in January and he continued at that spot in the first ODI against the West Indies on Sunday.

With quite a few players, including the likes of Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mayank Agarwal, competing for the opening spot, India’s decision to open with Pant in the 2nd ODI was certainly out of the box.

The move did not work as planned as Pant threw his wicket away for 18 after batting out 34 deliveries in the middle. Pant went for a pull shot against Odean Smith, who replaced Kieron Pollard, in the 12th over and was caught at fine leg.

However, batting great Sunl Gavaskar believes that it’s an experiment that India are making and if it works, they might as well carry forward the template into next year’s World Cup which will be played in India.

“The first 10 overs is where India have been a bit slow in the past. They are looking to take advantage of the field restrictions in the first 10 overs. They are clearly looking to score maybe 60-70. That is what they are looking for. This is an experiment, make no mistake. If it works, that is the template that they will like to carry forward as they go on to the World Cup in India next year.” Gavaskar, who was on-air during the 2nd ODI, told Star Sports.

“It’s something that will certainly look at. What it does also, if India are batting first, it will give him some time to recover. If he gets out in the 30th or 40th over, having done his job, he will get a little bit of break when he comes out to keep wickets.”

SIGN OF GIVING HIM MORE RESPONSIBILITY: GAVASKAR

Meanwhile, Gavaskar also said the move is a way of the team management telling Pant that they expect more run on a consistent manner from him at the top of the order.

“It’s may also mean they (the team management) is looking to give him a sense of responsibility at the top of the order. We have seen him charge down the pitch and get out in the past. Sending him up the order is a way of maybe telling him, ‘listen we expect more runs from you’. We will find out how it all pans out,” Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar also wondered if it means Pant is no longer being seen as the finisher in ODI cricket.

“Who is going to be the finisher? I was thinking maybe Pant will get that role with the licence to throw his bat around at the end when he comes into bat in the last 10-15 overs, provided the team has got off a very good start,” he added.

India were jolted early on Wednesday as they lost both Pant and Virat Kohli (18) in the same over by Smith.