Mohammad Azharuddin and Aakash Chopra want Rishabh Pant in India's World Cup squad

Rishabh Pant has been an absolute revelation with the bat ever since he was given his Test cap during the tour of England last year. The southpaw, who got off the mark in Tests with a six, went on to prove his credentials with a stunning century in the second innings of the last Test in England. It made him the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test ton in England. A couple of 90s against Windies in the following series further enhanced his reputation.

He has continued to impress in the ongoing series against Australia too. After scoring more than 25 runs in each of the first six innings, he slammed a historic ton on day two of the ongoing fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The highly-rated youngster smashed an unbeaten 159 to help India declare their innings on a mammoth 622 for 7. The monumental ton helped Pant create and break quite a few records.

He became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test ton in Australia and also the first Indian wicketkeeper to score two overseas centuries in Tests. He also broke MS Dhoni‘s long-standing record of highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper in overseas Tests. Dhoni had held the record for over a decade for his 148-run knock in Pakistan in 2006.

Former players want Pant in World Cup squad:

Impressed with Pant’s latest knock, former Indian cricketers Mohammad Azharuddin and Aakash Chopra have both called for the youngster’s inclusion in the ODI squad for the upcoming fixtures against Australia and New Zealand and keep him in the team’s World Cup 2019 plans.

Last month, the selection committee dropped Pant from India’s ODI fixture against Australia and New Zealand and named MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik as the two wicketkeepers. Pant had recently made his ODI debut during the home series against Windies.

“India still have time to include him in the T20 and ODI sides. He is an attacking batsman and he should be part of the World Cup squad,” Azharuddin told India Today.

Echoing Azharuddin’s sentiments, Chopra said: “He is giving us reminders that there is a lot more to him. Indian cricket needs to invest. You have got to start looking beyond one format for him. It will be a travesty if he’s not there. Every single knock, he is growing, he is showcasing his maturity. You need match-winners, game-changers. At least, having in the mix. MS is going to be there. Having Rishabh Pant is mandatory, looking towards the World Cup.”

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