Dinesh Karthik hints at Rishabh Pant's probable batting position in NZ T20Is

Rishabh Pant keeping vs Zimbabwe [Source: AP]

Despite being an incredibly talented cricketer, Rishabh Pant has somehow failed to make his mark in T20Is. The swashbuckling keeper-batter has been an inconsistent performer with the bat in the shortest format, managing only 970 runs at a mediocre average of 23.1 and a strike rate of 127.3. 

As Pant has been a proven failure in the middle order, fans and experts have called for his exclusion from the T20I squad. However, considering Pant's immense potential, the team management has decided to give him a last chance in the New Zealand T20Is. 

Meanwhile, famed Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels that India will test Pant at the top, as it makes no sense to persist with him in the middle order. Hailing the Delhi batter for his hard-hitting skills, Karthik explained how Pant could solve India's batting issues in the powerplay. 

Here's what Karthik stated

"Immediately we come down to Pant at No.5. Do we want him to bat there or let see if we can give him the opportunity to open. Because we know one think for sure, his ability to play shots. And when the field is up, he can go gung-ho in the powerplay so we can give him the opportunity to open,

"Interestingly, his strike rate is highest when he opens. He likes the field up, he likes to take on bowlers and put them under pressure. He is second to none when it comes to stroke play and has baffled a lot of international bowlers of high pedigree."

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