Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes India can still use MS Dhoni, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the side together. Jaffer, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, believes that Dhoni’s presence will reduce the keeping pressure for Rahul while Pant can be included in the playing XI as a left-handed batsman.
“If Dhoni is fit and in form I think we can’t look beyond him as he’ll be an asset behind the stumps and also lower down the order. It’ll take the pressure of keeping off Rahul and India can play Pant as a batsman too if they want a lefty,” Jaffer wrote on Twitter.
Ever since Dhoni has stepped away from the limelight, the Indian selectors have reposed faith on Rishabh Pant to be the keeper across all the three formats. However, the young man has not been able to do justify to his talent and this has given Rahul the chance to serve as the wicket-keeper batsman in the limited-overs cricket.
“Rishabh Pant is not a natural ‘keeper but he’s got all that talent which will go to waste if he doesn’t work on his keeping. I think he has realized that and if you see him now, he is working extremely hard on his ‘keeping as well,” Team India coach Ravi Shastri said in a recent interview.