I’ll go with Rishabh Pant for limited-overs cricket, opines Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that Rishabh Pant is still an automatic choice for India in the limited overs squad even though KL Rahul has done a decent job behind the sticks after the former was ruled out for the last ODI against Australia due to concussion.

Then legendary cricketer believes that Rishabh Pant will not only play the role of a wicket keeper in the limited overs format but is also going to be an invaluable addition to the lower batting order, playing at number 6 as a finisher.

"I will go with Rishabh Pant in the limited-overs cricket. If you need a finisher at No. 6 then Rishabh Pant can do that for the team," said Sunil Gavaskar as reported by Aaj Tak.

On the flip side, Gavaskar also mentioned that Pant can help the Indian team at the top of the order, as it would make him the second left-hander apart from veteran Shikhar Dhawan.

“Also he is a left-handed batsman, so considering the Indian batting line-up where we have only one left-handed batsman in form of Shikhar Dhawan, so if we have another southpaw in top-order then it will be beneficial for the team. So I will go with Rishabh Pant," added Gavaskar.

India played with KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper batsman for the remainder of the Australia series after Pant suffered a concussion. With the New Zealand series round the corner, it will be interesting to see if the youngster is given an opportunity or if he’s overlooked and KL Rahul keeps his place behind the wickets.

India will play five T20Is, 3 ODIs, and three Tests in New Zealand beginning later this week. The tour kick-starts with the first T20I at Eden Park, in Auckland this Friday.