Nehra feels Pant should be backed in the Indian team

Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra has backed Rishabh Pant to succeed MS Dhoni in the India team. Pant had lost his place in limited-overs cricket during the New Zealand tour when KL Rahul took over as the wicketkeeper and put in some excellent performances. Nehra however is of the belief that Pant should be backed.

Talking on the show 'Cricket Connected' Nehra said," "It totally depends on which format we are talking about. If we are talking about Test cricket, and if you want to go with the best wicket-keeper then you also have to consider the mindset of the captain and coach. I am in total agreement with Sanjay Bangar, I think they should go ahead with Rishabh Pant. Pant should be backed! Every player needs to be backed when it comes to international cricket."

Nehra also feels that having a left-handed batsman in the middle-order further adds to the team's balance. "I think the way he started this year's IPL and I think it is very important to have a left-hander as an option because for Team India when it comes to the middle order it helps to balance out the right-handers," Nehra added.

Pant has been in good form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 for Delhi Capitals (DC), having scored 171 runs from five innings at a strike-rate of 139.02. DC take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday (October 9) at Sharjah