WITH KL RAHUL AS WICKETKEEPER, IRFAN PATHAN SUGGESTS NEW ROLE FOR RISHAB PANT IN INDIAN TEAM!

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Friday said the team would find a finisher in Rishab Pant, despite KL Rahul's sudden rise as wicketkeeper. After Pant suffered a concussion in the 1st ODI against Australia earlier this month, Rahul donned the gloves and has been impressive so far.

Skipper Virat Kohli on Friday confirmed that Rahul will continue to don the gloves for the T20I series against New Zealand as well.

Before the start of the 1st T20I, Deep Das Gupta questioned Irfan Pathan on Pant's role in the team now.

“Irfan, KL Rahul has changed a bit. He is not just a batsman. He is a wicketkeeper now. What does that mean for Rishabh Pant?” he asked.

In response, Pathan said India should persist with Pant as he could be a good finisher for the team.

“Team management is going to keep backing Rishabh Pant. The situation with him is, that they are going to find a good finisher in him. That’s why they are investing in him,” Pathan said.

“He hasn’t shown that yet. But we have seen in the IPL he has finished the game and won the games for Delhi Capitals. That’s what they see him doing in the future, and hence they keep persisting with him," he added.

Pathan further added: “I would like to see that as well. If Pant is batting at no. 6 and Hardik Pandya comes at no. 7, it’s a solid lower order, which you need in T20Is, to finish off the game.”