Sanju Samson alternative option for Rishabh Pant: Sunil Gavaskar

Rishabh Pant has been coping criticism from all corners and but ex-cricketers and experts believe it’s a bit too harsh on the youngster, who batting at No.4, in limited overs for India has failed to put up a substantial score, getting out to rash shots and poor judgement.

One of those ex-cricketers is former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, who feels Pant will eventually rectify his mistakes and the scrutiny in the youngster is more because of the successful he has enjoyed in Test cricket.

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“The way he (Pant) started his career in Tests, it was so good and it is obvious that he will be scrutinised. I think whatever is happening is for his good as he can rectify the mistakes he is making,” Gavaskar had told India Today on Thursday.

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The India great was talking in reference to how the team management should be focused on investing in Pant as the first-choice wicketkeeper for ICC World T20 to held in Australia next year and opined that the veteran MS Dhoni should make his way out on is own, rather than being ‘pushed out’.

“I think he (Dhoni) should be going without being pushed out,” Gavaskar had said.

But, Pant has been struggling to make that No.4 spot his own. He has been India’s No.4 in the T20Is since February this year and has played eight times since, with a best of 65 not out against West Indies in August. However, in the remaining eight innings Pant has totalled 38 runs with five single digit scores.

Gavaskar believes if India have to look beyond even Pant, then Kerala‘s Sanju Samson is the right man. “If I need to have an alternate option, then I will think of Sanju Samson because Sanju is a good ‘keeper as well as a good batsman,” said Gavaskar.