Harbhajan Singh wants Rishabh Pant in India’s squad for the World Cup 2019

Indian fans are elated to see explosive wicket-keeper-batsman Rishabh Pant returning to the national side for the New Zealand T20Is. The 21-year-old headed home after scoring 159 not out in the final Test against Australia in Sydney last month as the veteran MS Dhoni replaced him for the ODI series against the Aussies and Kiwis. Pant is now back into the squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand.

Speculation is still rife whether Pant will eventually make it to India’s World Cup squad, especially with Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik around. But voices seeking his selection in the WC squad are no less deafening and one of them belongs to senior India spinner Harbhajan Singh. The 38-year-old feels the T20I series against the Black Caps gives the young Pant a good opportunity to showcase his own capability and seal a place for himself in the 15-man squad that will head for England in the quest of the third world title.

Pant can bat at No.3, says Turbanator

According to Harbhajan Singh, who was a member of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 2011 under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, advised that Pant can bat at No.3 in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli who has been rested. Pant played a couple of limited-overs games for India ‘A’ against England Lions at home after returning from Australia, hitting an unbeaten 73 in one of them.

“I would love to see him [Pant] bat in the top order. He is someone… if he gets going, he can get you a lot of runs. Maybe, No.3 position could be for Pant since Virat is not there. If he gets to bat inside the first six overs, I think he can do a lot of damage to their bowling attack,” Harbhajan told India Today on the eve of the first T20I in Wellington.

Calling Pant a “match-winner on his day”, Harbhajan said India would require the dashing batter’s services at some point of time in the mega tournament.

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