Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has reckoned that the keeper-batter Rishabh Pant should have been part of the ODI squad for the forthcoming West Indies series at home.
With Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan not part of the ODI set-up, selectors have instead opted for Dhruv Jurel, with KL Rahul being the first-choice keeper. Notably, Pant couldn’t find a spot in the ODI series against Afghanistan and England recently.
“Rishabh Pant could have been in the ODI team because Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are not available, but Dhruv Jurel has been preferred. He has pipped him to the post. It almost seems like the selectors have said that we’re not looking at you for ODIs. He has been out for the last couple of series. There is no issue of form with him because he scored runs in Sri Lanka,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Dhruv Jurel’s name is another big development, because he was only part of the Test team till now. It seemed like his name would come up for the other teams one day, and that day has come. He is a part of the ODI team as well now,” he added.
Further, Chopra expressed his surprise over Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi receiving his maiden ODI call-up. With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh not part of the ODI team, Chopra reckons that Nabi could get a chance to play.
“Auqib Nabi in ODI cricket, now that is an interesting development because you are not playing him. You kept him in the Test team and did not play him, but now you have included him in the ODI team. Prima facie makes you think that he is not an ODI bowler, but he is in the team, who knows, he might even get a chance to play. This is a young-looking fast bowling attack,” Aakash Chopra opined.
