"He has got to be in that T20 World Cup squad. He's ready" - Stuart Broad mighty impressed by Rishabh Pant's batting in IPL 2024
Former England seamer Stuart Broad has urged Indian selectors to pick Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant in the squad for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup.
Pant returned to competitive cricket in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) after being on the sidelines for almost 15 months. He suffered multiple injuries in a horrific car crash in December 2022.
Broad pointed out how the southpaw has looked in impressive form for Delhi and suggested that he is ready for an India comeback as well. Speaking to Star Sports, here's what Borad said about Rishabh Pant's 2024 T20 World Cup chances:
"The selection for the Indian team is up in the air a little bit. You have some players pending in that team. Rishabh Pant's probably the one on whom there's a lot of discussion about. There was a shot I saw him play against KKR, a no-look flick over deep square leg for six. The moment he played that shot, I thought, he has got to be in that T20 World Cup squad. He's ready. He's good to go."
While Rishabh Pant looked rusty in the first couple of matches for Delhi, he has made a strong case for himself by turning things around. The southpaw has hit two half-centuries in seven games and is the leading run-getter for Delhi, chalking up 210 runs at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 156.71.
The 26-year-old has done a commendable job with the gloves as well. His sharp glovework helped Delhi claim three important breakthroughs in their clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Wednesday. Pant took a fine one-handed diving catch and inflicted two brilliant stumpings.
"I'd like to see him be an Impact Sub in a couple of games" - Stuart Broad on Rishabh Pant's workload
Stuart Broad also emphasized the importance of managing Rishabh Pant's workload ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. He pointed out how the player has the responsibility of captaincy, keeping, and batting in the top order for his franchise.
Suggesting that DC should consider using Pant as an impact substitute in a few matches, Broad added:
"He has taken a huge amount on; he's been out of the game for such a long period. He's captain, he's wicketkeeper, he's batting 3, 4, 5. There's a huge amount on his plate already. I'd like to see him be an Impact Sub in a couple of games, taking a bit of the workload off his shoulders. He's a match-winner, so I think if I was the selector, he'd be my wicketkeeper in the World Cup squad."
Apart from Rishabh Pant, the other frontrunners for the keeper-batter's position in India's T20 World Cup squad include Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Sanju Samson.