“Let him open the innings” - Sanjay Bangar gives crucial advice to Rishabh Pant and Lucknow Super Giants

Former Indian batter and commentator Sanjay Bangar has come up with a crucial piece of advice for the Lucknow Super Giants franchise, led by Rishabh Pant. Notably, the LSG team suffered a one-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals in the team’s season opener on March 24 in Visakhapatnam.

While Rishabh Pant could suffer a six-ball duck off Kuldeep Yadav in the team’s opening game, Bangar feels Pant can promote himself as an opener, which can improve the team’s winning chances by enhancing their run-scoring rate.

Moreover, the former Indian batter has asserted that LSG should strengthen their overseas attack by bringing in Shamar Joseph, the Caribbean pacer, instead of Aiden Markram, who couldn’t create an impact in the team’s season opener.

“I always believed that in the white-ball format, the best position for him is at the top. Let him open the innings. Drop Markram and get Shamar Joseph. The middle-order is unchanged as far as overseas batters are concerned,” Bangar told the broadcasters.

“And free up Rishabh Pant. Rishabh, as a batter, in the longer format has shown he is a far better player against quality pace too. He has a reputation of hitting against spin. He has done well against pace. So utilise him at the top of the order,” Bangar added.

Moreover, former New Zealand skipper and commentator Kane Williamson has also come out backing Rishabh Pant to do well in the team’s next affair. Notably, LSG will next take on SRH on Thursday, March 27.

It’s important to note that Rishabh Pant has scored 644 runs from 21 games as an opener, averaging 32.2 with the highest score of 116* against Himachal Pradesh in 2018.

“He is a class player. He has experience. IPL is a long tournament. Players are always going to take the game on. Rishabh is one of the best at that, I think you can expect him to do well in Hyderabad,” Williamson said.

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