Rishabh Pant will not be a threat to MS Dhoni, says Deep Dasgupta

The selectors have announced a 14-man squad for the first two ODIs against the Windies on Thursday. While a majority of players from the Asia Cup 2018 find a place for themselves, there are a few new surprise picks here and there. One of them is 20-year-old Rishabh Pant who is performing exceptionally well in recent times.

He was possibly picked as the second wicket-keeper in the side. However, with the decline in MS Dhoni’s form and with Pant doing well in the Test arena, many opined that there will be a tough competition between the two. However, former wicketkeeper and cricket analyst Deep Dasgupta thinks otherwise.

Rishabh Pant can come in as a batsman

Dasgupta said that Dhoni will never think of any other player as a competition and doesn’t press the panic button. He said that he looks at Rishabh Pant as the second keeper or as a pure batsman. The 41-year-old opined that it will help Pant to improve his skills by spending time with MS.

“I don’t think so. I think it is quite certain that MS Dhoni will go on to play the 2019 World Cup. And, I won’t be looking at it like that. I would be looking at it like Rishabh Pant as a second wicket-keeper and also as a pure batsman option.”

“Also, a good opportunity for someone like Rishabh Pant to learn the traits of the trait from the best in the world, I might say. It is a very good opportunity for Rishabh Pant and as far as MS Dhoni is concerned, I don’t think he never felt threatened even when he was a new-comer and obviously not now,” he said while speaking to ESPN Cricinfo.

Dasgupta added that having Pant in the lineup could also provide some cushion to MS Dhoni in the middle-order. With India having a lot of troubles with numbers 4, 5 and 6, Pant could be used to see if he provides a good solution. The first ODI begins on October 21, 2018.

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