Rishabh Pant news: Wicketkeeper prepared to bat anywhere he is needed

Rishabh Pant India Delhi Capitals PA

India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant says that he remains flexible when it comes to his batting position.

Pant has been used in a variety of roles by India but came in with ten overs to go in the second ODI against the West Indies.

He wasted little time or deliveries as he blasted his way to an unbeaten 52 off just 28 balls.

Speaking after his man of the match performance on Friday, Pant said: “I am fine wherever the team wants me to bat.”

Pant added that he was eager to play alongside Rovman Powell of the West Indies instead of against him.

Powell was picked up by the Delhi Capitals, who retained Rishabh Pant ahead of an IPL auction where they bagged Powell alongside Aussie stars David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.

Pant said it isn’t easy for players to move from bubble to bubble to keep playing the game, but insists that he always wants to play for India.

“It’s never easy playing continuously with bubbles but when I started playing, this is what I wanted to do,” Pant said.

“I think Powell was hitting bullets out there but at the back of the mind I was happy as well because he will be playing for Delhi Capitals.”

India would rest Pant for the third and final T20I against the West Indies on Sunday.

Ishan Kishan took the gloves for the match which India won by 17 runs.

India pace duo Harshal Patel and Shardul Tkahur halted the West Indies charge with some excellent death bowling.

Harshal took 3 for 22 and explained his approach: “The ball was holding on to the wicket.

“We wanted to keep it fuller.

“We had that conversation that we wanted to bowl fuller on this wicket.

“What is your go-to delivery is key.

“Just focusing on execution rather than what the batsman is going to do.

“There was a bit of dampness in the wicket because of the weather today because there was no sun [out] today.

“That made it a little difficult to bowl. Apart from that, there wasn’t a lot of dew.”

Pant has been used in a variety of roles by India but came in with ten overs to go in the second ODI against the West Indies.

He wasted little time or deliveries as he blasted his way to an unbeaten 52 off just 28 balls.

Speaking after his man of the match performance on Friday, Pant said: “I am fine wherever the team wants me to bat.”

Pant added that he was eager to play alongside Rovman Powell of the West Indies instead of against him.

Powell was picked up by the Delhi Capitals, who retained Rishabh Pant ahead of an IPL auction where they bagged Powell alongside Aussie stars David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.

Pant said it isn’t easy for players to move from bubble to bubble to keep playing the game, but insists that he always wants to play for India.

“It’s never easy playing continuously with bubbles but when I started playing, this is what I wanted to do,” Pant said.

“I think Powell was hitting bullets out there but at the back of the mind I was happy as well because he will be playing for Delhi Capitals.”

India would rest Pant for the third and final T20I against the West Indies on Sunday.

Ishan Kishan took the gloves for the match which India won by 17 runs.

India pace duo Harshal Patel and Shardul Tkahur halted the West Indies charge with some excellent death bowling.

Harshal took 3 for 22 and explained his approach: “The ball was holding on to the wicket.

“We wanted to keep it fuller.

“We had that conversation that we wanted to bowl fuller on this wicket.

“What is your go-to delivery is key.

“Just focusing on execution rather than what the batsman is going to do.

“There was a bit of dampness in the wicket because of the weather today because there was no sun [out] today.

“That made it a little difficult to bowl. Apart from that, there wasn’t a lot of dew.”

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