Wasim Jaffer confers Rishabh Pant as an opening option

Rishabh Pant in T20 World Cup 2022 (Source: AP)

After India's disastrous exit from the T20 World Cup 2022, the Men in Blue will have their first assignment against a fellow team that was knocked out of the competition in the semifinal, New Zealand. 

For the series, the selectors have gone with a young-blood unit under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. There is already a buzz with various pundits asking the BCCI to shift the T20I throne from Rohit Sharma to Pandya. 

Some former players have also asked the board and the selectors to rethink the composition of the current T20I lineup. The latest one to add his thoughts to the already-running debate is Wasim Jaffer, who wants them to open with Rishabh Pant. 

The former Indian opener gave his theory behind backing Pant as an opener commenting on starting the innings with the wicketkeeper, 

"Well, I don't think Rishabh Pant hasn't batted there (at the opening spot). He has always batted at No. 4 & 5 for India, and even for Delhi Capitals,

Sometimes I feel that is the best place for him to bat, then the fielders are up and if he gets going at the start of the innings then he becomes a dangerous player like he bats in the Tests and even in One-Dayers."

However, the Hardik Pandya-led unit already has options for the opening spots in Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. While it is pretty obvious that India will not leave their vice-skipper hanging on the bench, opening the innings with him does not seem a practical solution.

However, Jaffer has also tipped his picks for the middle-order batters in Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Skipper Pandya, while he picked Deepak Hooda as the finisher over Sanju Samson.

Also Read: No harm in identifying Hardik Pandya as new T20I captain - Ravi Shastri