Sourav Ganguly backed young Rishabh Pant as a possible choice for the No. 4 slot in the Indian batting line-up during World Cup, but said the coming IPL could solve the problem for the team management.
The former India captain and currently the Delhi Capitals adviser, however, added that captain Virat Kohli perhaps knew who should take that place in the Indian team.
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting also said that Pant, their wicketkeeper-batsman, should play at No. 4.
“Many choices are there, but I think the IPL will in a way decide who gets that position. I had said (Cheteshwar) Pujara because he has been in good form. I saw (Rahul) Dravid play the role when I was captain.
“Pant or (Ambati) Rayudu could be an option. We can give our opinion, but somewhere I feel Kohli knows who it should be,” said Sourav.
According to Sourav, “Anybody who wants to succeed in shorter formats of the game has to go up (the batting order)… We have seen the best in the world do that.
“If you send Pant at No. 4, he will score runs for you because he is so talented and he has got so much time to play.”
Explaining the reasons behind backing Pant, Sourav said: “In his short career he has been remarkable for India and once he starts getting opportunities consistently, he will be a top player.
“Look at the way he played in the IPL last year… He got a full tournament… Fourteen games… And he was probably the second highest run-getter in the IPL last year.
“The problem with him in shorter formats is that he doesn’t get regular cricket because you have a champion in Mahendra Singh Dhoni who actually plays most of the games (in these formats). So, Pant is coming in and going out all the time and that’s never good for anybody.
“The reason he succeeds in Test cricket is because he plays consistently. How many Indian wicketkeeper-batsmen have got Test hundreds in England and Australia? And he scored them at ease.
“It’s not that he struggled… It’s not that he looked out of place against fast bowling,” Sourav pointed out.
Sourav was convinced that the Delhi lad could be an asset for the Indian team in the near future. “For me, he is your future. For the next 10 years, you will see that boy a lot in all formats of the game and not because he plays for Delhi, he can play for anyone he wants to.
“Just as he’s a serious talent, he is a hard worker as well. I have been watching him at nets for the last four years. He is always the first one to come out and bat for longer periods. He will be a huge asset to Indian cricket in the years to come,” said Sourav.
Ponting, on his part, said: “The first thing I would do is pick him (Pant) in that Indian squad for the World Cup. I would play him as a batsman and I would play him at number four. He is the sort of guy, with that kind of talent, he can win you a World Cup… He has got that X-factor.”
Sourav, though, did not like the idea of key players not playing too many matches before the World Cup and taking rest during the IPL season. According to him, a player should never lose an opportunity of playing since a top cricketer’s career span is never too long.
“How many cricketers get to play 15-16 years of international cricket? I don’t think anyone should worry about being fatigued, being tired… Just find a way to get fresh,” he said.
“I have always said there is limited time to play this sport. Getting opportunities at the international level, at the IPL level, this will never come back. So, find a way to get rest, find a way to stay fresh and keep playing.
“Not playing is not the solution… Even our generation played a lot of cricket. Yes, IPL was not there as it came towards the end of our career, but cricket-wise, it was the same,” he added.
Ponting, meanwhile, is hopeful that Delhi Capitals will be able to do better on this occasion. “It is a fresh start for all of us. We have a good blend of youth and experience in the squad and if we guys work really well together, we can achieve some pretty special things this season,” he said.
