‘I do think they’ll stick with him’, Ricky Ponting names Pant’s replacement

Rishabh Pant’s injury has thrown up tough questions for the Indian selectors ahead of the ODI World Cup at home. In his absence, KL Rahul has done a great job. While his Test and T20I credentials may have taken a massive hit, he has scored vital runs in the middle role in ODIs and has kept up well in Indian conditions.

Ponting said in the latest episode of ICC Review –

“Look, I do think they’ll stick with him. I think in their World Cup squad, KL will definitely be there.” Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Rahul is a certainty in India’s World Cup squad.

Ponting added – “I think Ishan Kishan should definitely be there as well to give another left-handed batting option because if you look back to game three, they promoted Axar and Jadeja ahead of Surya because of Ashton Agar and the balls spinning away from the right-handers.”

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Ponting further said – “With Rishabh not being there now, they might think of maybe wanting to play a specialist left-handed batter in the middle order which I think would have to be Ishan Kishan in some role, whether that’s at No.4 or No.5.”

Ponting further added –

“Just to negate teams that have got left-arm off-spin because when you look at the spinners around the world now, there are very few right-arm off-spinners in ODIs and T20Is.”