Ashish Nehra backs Rishabh Pant to shine in absence of Hardik Pandya

Rishabh Pant. PC: Twitter

Former Indian left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra believes that Rishabh Pant can rise to the occasion in absence of Hardik Pandya ahead of the second T20I between India and South Africa in Guwahati.

Pant, who has played 16 T20Is for India this year, scoring 311 runs at an average of 25.9, has not been a regular name in India’s T20I eleven lately. The star wicket-keeper batter could not find a place in the side in the recently concluded three match T20I series against Australia where the southpaw only played in the rain interrupted second T20I in Nagpur. 

Senior wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik was preferred against Australia after Pant’s poor outcomes in the Asia Cup.

However, both Pant and Karthik got featured in the series opener against South Africa as Hardik Pandya had been rested for the three match series.

Ashish Nehra backs Rishabh Pant

While speaking to Cricbuzz ahead of the second T20I against South Africa, Nehra reflected on his views on Pant's possibility to feature in India’s starting XI in Guwahati. The 43-year-old backed Pant to deliver in the middle order position in absence of Hardik Pandya and play a match defining knock.

"I would watch out for Rishabh Pant. He is bound to be in the playing XI now, he has a good chance with Hardik Pandya not being there. He has been in and out of the team as of late. Now if he also scores runs, that will be another plus point for India," Nehra said.

Suryakumar Yadav - player to watch, says RP Singh

RP Singh, who was also present talking to Cricbuzz alongside Nehra, added his views on Suryakumar Yadav and said that the right-hander would be his player to watch out for in the second T20I.

"Suryakumar Yadav would be the player to watch out for from India. Quinton de Kock from South Africa," Singh added.

Yadav scored an unbeaten 50 off just 33 balls on a difficult pitch and helped India to win the first T20I in Thiruvananthapuram. He is currently the highest run scorer in T20Is this year, scoring 732 runs at a strike rate of 180.3.

Also Read: Wayne Parnell hails '360-degree' Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the second T20I