Rishabh Pant's form is a "healthy headache" for India, said MSK Prasad.
Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar and Ajinkya Rahane are in contention for the upcoming 2019 World Cup, revealed India’s chairman of selectors MSK Prasad.
Rishabh Pant's form is a "healthy headache" for India, said MSK Prasad as India are contemplating playing the 21-year-old wicketkeeper as a specialist batsman at this year's World Cup. The Twenty20 series in New Zealand illustrated India's problem of plenty behind the stumps with MS Dhoni keeping while fellow glovesmen Dinesh Karthik and Pant played as pure batsmen.
Even though his batting prowess has been on the wane, Dhoni's sharp glovework makes him India's first choice wicketkeeper in limited-overs cricket, while Karthik seems to have transformed himself into a fluent lower order batsman who can also float in the batting order.
Pant has played only three one-day internationals but his six-hitting prowess and stellar performance in India's breakthrough test series victory in Australia make him difficult to ignore as India chase their third 50-overs World Cup title in England.
"Undoubtedly he (Pant) is in contention," Prasad told ESPNcricinfo. "A healthy headache. The progression of Rishabh in the last one year is phenomenal across the formats."
"What we actually felt is he needs a bit of maturity now, gain more experience. That is the reason we have included him in India A series wherever possible."
The chief selector admitted that he used to think of Pant as a “thick-skinned person” but now he sees him as a mature player who has shown a lot of commitment to the team’s cause.
Talking about Rahane, Prasad said that the middle order batsman has shown some good from in domestic cricket, and is definitely an option for the World Cup.
“In domestic cricket he has been in form," Prasad said. "He is very much in contention for the World Cup,” he said.
Rahane has been quite impressive and consistent in List A cricket having scored 597 runs in 11 innings at an average of 74.62.
Prasad also talked highly about the skill set of right-hand batsman Vijay Shanker. The selector said that they need to figure out how well Shanker fits in the dynamics of the team.
All-rounder Vijay Shankar also gave a good account of himself both in the one-day and Twenty20 series in New Zealand to stake his claim to be part of the 20-player pool from which India would pick their final 15.
"In whatever opportunities he has got, Vijay Shankar has shown the skillsets required at this level," Prasad said of the 28-year-old middle order batsman who bowls medium pace.
"We have been grooming him through India A tours in the last two years. But we will have to see where he can fit in the dynamics of this team."
India begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa at Southampton on June 5. The 2019 cricket World cup is slated to be held from May 30 to July 14 in England.
(With Reuters and ANI Inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rishabh Pant")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}