BCCI updates on Rishabh Pant’s chances of playing Australia ODIs and T20Is

Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been on the firing line of late due to his low fitness levels. The left-hander was therefore left out of Team India’s ODI and T20I squads for their upcoming tour of Australia that commences after the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) ends.

Pant is currently plying his trade for the Shreyas Iyer-captained Delhi Capitals (DC). The Uttarakhand-born Pant has been picked for the Test series though. And if reports are to be believed, he might even be added to the limited-overs squads if need be.

“In any case, all three teams will be there, Pant, if need be, can be added to the squad,” sources were quoted as saying in Outlook.

Earlier, the National Cricket Academy (NCA), headed by Rahul Dravid, also asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to share an update on Pant. It was clearly visible that questions were being raised on Pant’s fitness.

“The Indian team fitness trainer had shared his perspective on Pant some days ago and we believe he’s overweight. Regardless of what’s obvious on the field, the BCCI and the selectors will have to take the fitness report on Pant into consideration before they can pick him. The selectors need to speak to trainer Nick Webb before taking the call,” sources had said.

Rishabh Pant’s inconsistent run

Pant hasn’t had the greatest of IPL campaigns thus far in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Even as his team have won seven out of their first 11 games, Rishabh has strained to find a rhythm. In DC’s last match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he scored around 30 runs at a strike-rate under 100.

Moreover, he also had to sit out for a week due to a Grade 1 hamstring tear. Alex Carey replaced him as the keeper while he was out. As far as his international career is concerned, he was deemed as a successor of MS Dhoni, who retired back on August 15.

However, a string of low scores over a long period of time raised questions over his credentials at the highest level. Earlier this year, he also lost his place in the ODI and T20Is teams after he suffered a concussion during an ODI against Australia.