'Not too long ago he scored an important century' - VVS Laxman reveals reason behind backing Rishabh Pant

The Rishabh Pant-Sanju Samson debate has been going on for a long time, and the spark has ignited since Samson was dropped from India’s playing XI for the second ODI against New Zealand, even after performing well in the first game. After so many speculations, India’s interim coach VVS Laxman shared his thoughts on the brewing topic, quoting why the team continued to back Pant.

Pant has been playing for quite some time now, and while he has established his dominance in Test matches after scoring hundreds in Australia, England, and South Africa, the wicketkeeper-batter has not been able to master the same success in the white-ball limited-overs game. It's not like his ODI record is poor because he has 865 runs at an average of 34.60 from 30 ODIs, but it's his T20I statistics that paint a less impressive picture.

Pant has been doing well at no. 4, it's important to back him: Laxman

And while players like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan race for a spot in the starting XI, Pant has been continuously preferred ahead of the two. However, Laxman finally spoke up and explained why Pant is still supported by the team's administration despite a streak of poor scores.

“It's about giving them opportunities and also informing them whenever they aren't picked. Pant has been doing well at no. 4, not too long ago he scored an important century at Old Trafford and it's important to back him. T20 cricket has given batters more confidence about clearing the grounds no matter how big the outfields are, they also work a lot with the range-hitting,” Laxman told Prime Video before the start of the third ODI between India and New Zealand in Christchurch.

Due to the inclusion of Samson in the team, Pant's spot in India's starting XI has come under more scrutiny. The 28-year-old has had an outstanding start to his one-day international career, scoring 330 runs from 11 matches at a great average of 66, comprising two half-centuries. However, Pant is consistently included in the Playing XI while Samson ends up sitting out.