Rishabh Pant has been rested for India’s T20 series against Bangladesh, commencing on October 6. This decision allows him to prepare for an upcoming Test series with New Zealand. Several other regular players are also absent, as the squad introduces new talents like Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with Sanju Samson set to lead in Pant’s stead. The matches are lined up in Guwahati, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
India’s prominent wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, has been rested for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Bangladesh, set to commence on October 6 in Guwahati. Pant recently made a strong return to Test cricket, scoring a remarkable century after a hiatus of 21 months, but will now receive some time off in preparation for a crucial three-match Test series against New Zealand later this month. In addition to Pant, several other regulars, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and Khaleel Ahmed, have also been excluded from the T20 squad, as focus shifts to the impending New Zealand series. These players were part of the newly formed T20 team under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav during the Sri Lanka tour. The call-up of pacer Mayank Yadav follows an impressive performance in the previous Indian Premier League, where he secured seven wickets in four outings for the Lucknow Super Giants, a team formerly mentored by India’s coach, Gautam Gambhir. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made headlines with Sunrisers Hyderabad, is included in the squad after recovering from an injury that ruled him out during the Zimbabwe T20 series. Abhishek Sharma, a left-handed opener who achieved his maiden T20 century against Zimbabwe, returns after missing the Sri Lanka tour. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy makes a comeback to the team since the last T20 World Cup held in 2021. Other notable inclusions are pacer Harshit Rana and keeper-batter Jitesh Sharma. In Pant’s absence, Sanju Samson is positioned as the primary keeper-batter. The schedule for the T20 series against Bangladesh includes matches on October 6, 9, and 12, taking place in Guwahati, Delhi, and Hyderabad, respectively.
The decision to rest Rishabh Pant comes amidst an important phase for the Indian cricket team as they gear up for a Test series against New Zealand following the T20 matches against Bangladesh. Pant’s recent return to Test cricket has been crucial for him after an extended break, and the management has opted to provide him with recovery time to ensure he is at his best for the forthcoming Test matches. The T20 series allows the team to experiment with newer players while focusing on building a strong squad ahead of critical series.
In conclusion, Rishabh Pant’s resting from the T20 series against Bangladesh allows for strategic management of the player’s workload ahead of the more demanding Test series against New Zealand. With several key players omitted, the T20 matches will serve as a platform for promising talents like Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy to showcase their skills, while Sanju Samson will assume a pivotal role as the primary keeper-batter in Pant’s absence. The upcoming matches, scheduled across three significant venues, promise to offer an exciting display of T20 cricket.
Original Source: apnews.com
