Rishabh’s form is fantastic, let a few games go: Ganguly
MUMBAI: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said on Saturday that Rishabh Pant is “fully fit” but added that the wicketkeeper-batter should be given some more time to prepare himself for India team selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.
Pant, the Delhi Capitals skipper seems to be hitting his strides in the ongoing IPL with consecutive half-centuries after returning to professional cricket following a harrowing car crash in December 2022.
Asked if he thinks Pant is ready for selection in the India squad, Ganguly, who is DC’s director of cricket, said after a team training session that: “Let a few more matches go. He is doing very well. As you all must have seen, you know, (wicket) keeping, batting. He has held up well.
“His form has been fantastic, especially the way he has batted in the last two games. Let another week go, and I’ll be able to answer that question... provided the selectors want to pick him — that’s most important. He’s fit, fully fit,” Ganguly added.
Pant is currently the fourthhighest run-getter in IPL 2024, having scored 152 runs in four matches at a strike rate of nearly 160.
DC will take on the embattled five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Ganguly added that he was satisfied with the bowling department but the team, which has lost three of its four matches so far this season, could do with an extra batter.
“We have used the bowling part of it well in terms of Mukesh (Kumar), who’s developed under Delhi Capitals, Khaleel (Ahmed) and Ishant (Sharma).
“Prithvi Shaw... he’s come back into good form this season. Obviously, Rishabh is a domestic Indian talent. Abhishek Porel has started out well this season. We need to find one more batsman who can do it.
The legendary cricketer added that the likes of young players such as Ricky Bhui, and Kumar Kushagra could get opportunities to play as the tournament progresses.
Young Jharkhand batter Kushagra was bought by DC for a mind boggling ₹7.2 crore in the IPL auction but is yet to play an IPL match this season.
“It’s about opportunities at this level. Hopefully with the young players like (Ricky) Bhui, (Kumar) Kushagra, we can give them opportunities and see how it goes. It’s also on the balance of the side, whether you want to go the bowling way or the batting way,” said Ganguly.
“Of course, he (Kushagra) will play. We’re looking for an opportunity for him to play. We saw (Sameer) Rizvi play for Chennai, he also got a very high price tag.”*