“I think he just needs to bat, and bat” - Ex-Indian keeper offers a piece of advice to Rishabh Pant

Former Indian keeper-batter and commentator Deep Dasgupta has suggested that the Indian keeper-batter Rishabh Pant needs to concentrate on scoring runs consistently in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 season to make a case for his selection in the Indian ODI squad for the New Zealand series.

According to a report published on India Today, Pant is expected to miss out on the selection in the ODI squad for the New Zealand series, which is scheduled to start on Sunday, January 11, in Vadodara.

"In T20 cricket, is he a top-three batter? Or is he a middle-order batter, or is he a finisher? What's he? He needs to answer these questions. As far as I am concerned, he is a top-three batter in T20I cricket. In ODIs, he is a good No.4 or No.5," Deep Dasgupta told India Today.

"I think he just needs to bat, and bat. He got an excellent 70-odd for Delhi. He just needs to keep scoring runs, playing white-ball cricket wherever he gets the opportunity, domestic or otherwise, and learn his trade, learn what suits him," he added.

It’s important to note that Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan are currently in contention for the ODI team selection ahead of Rishabh Pant as back-up keeper-batters to KL Rahul. The India Today report also mentioned that the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, might aim to pick Ishan Kishan in the ODI set-up, courtesy of his exceptional performances in domestic cricket.

Pant last featured in an ODI for India in August 2024 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. While he was named in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, he did not feature in a single game.

In the ongoing VHT 2025-26 season, Pant could score only 121 runs from four games.

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