T20 WC winner urges Pant to open in T20 cricket

• Uthappa: Pant shouldn't bat below No. 3 in T20s for optimal performance.
• Pant's form declined post-accident; Uthappa urges him to open or bat at three.
• Pant likely out of ODI series due to abdominal injury during net practice.

Former Indian cricketer and 2007 T20 World Cup-winner Robin Uthappa has opined wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant should not bat below the No. 3 spot as far

as T20 cricket is concerned. Pant, who last played a T20I in August 2024, was not selected for the squad for the T20 World Cup to be played across February and March this year.

Uthappa believes that Pant has not been able to produce optimal performances ever since he got into the unfortunate car accident in late 2022. The cricketer-turned-commentator felt Pant should not waste his opportunities by batting in the middle order.

"I'm very patient personally with Pant. I still believe that because of that accident (a car crash in December 2022), we've not seen the best of Pant. I feel he's getting there and is building himself. I believe that if he opens or plays at three, we'll see the best of him soon. The spot he's batting at - No. 4 or No. 5, especially in T20s - usse zyaada galat cheez Rishabh nahi kar sakta (Rishabh couldn’t do anything more wrong than this)," shared Uthappa in a video on his YouTube channel. 

Uthappa commented on how Pant is that type of batter who can wreak havoc inside the powerplay and whenever he gets the liberty of time at the crease. The Coorg-born further urged the left-hander to take his advice and implement it in order to prolong his career in the shortest format of the game, and possibly make a comeback in the national squad.

"I was very happy when he was playing at three in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He is such a batter who should get more balls in T20 cricket. He should be given the freedom of the powerplay. I was so frustrated that he was the captain of LSG and batting at five. If this reaches him - Bro, please open, you will shake Indian T20 cricket," he added.

Pant ruled out of ODI series

Meanwhile, India have been dealt with a massive blow as Pant is all but ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is set to start on Sunday, January 11. The stumper-batter was hit in the abdominal area during the net practice session on the eve of the opening encounter in Vadodara. BCCI will soon make an official announcement, and in all likeliness, a replacement will be named.