My T20I numbers are not great but there is still time: Pant

Rishabh Pant’s form in white-ball cricket has been pretty confusing. Whilst he has had a torrid time in the shortest format, with just 987 runs in 56 innings, averaging 22, his form in the ODI format has been good. Over the last two years, Pant has scored over 500 runs in the 50-over format, with a staggering strike-rate of above 100. 

But somehow there has been a middling perception, with criticisms around Pant in the 50-over format. However, ahead of the third ODI, Pant admitted that his numbers in the shortest format hasn’t been the best. 

"There is no need to premeditate in ODIs, only in T20s you need to premeditate. I don't look at numbers, yes my T20I numbers are not great but I am still 25 and there is time to compare. No logic in comparing now,” Pant told Bhogle on Amazon Prime.

If given a choice, the southpaw insisted that he would rather bat at the top of the order in T20Is, whilst batting at No.4-5 in the ODIs. In the longest format, however, his form has been untouchable. Perhaps, he is India’s biggest differentiator in the red-ball format. 

"I would choose to bat in the top order in T20Is, number 4-5 in ODIs and in Test I am batting at 5. Yes, the game plan changes when you are batting lower down the order but at the same time you have to bat where the team wants you to," Pant said. 

However, Pant failed for the second game in a row in ODIs, hooking the ball straight to Glenn Phillips off Daryl Mitchell’s bowling, for just 10.