Not Rishabh Pant, Aakash Chopra wants Prithvi Shaw to open for India in T20Is

Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently told Cricbuzz that he wants to see Rishabh Pant opening the batting for the Indian side? But are there other options at India’s disposal? Aakash Chopra ponders.sakk

Prtihvi Shaw okays a shot in IPL. (Courtesy: PTI/BCCI)

By India Today Web Desk: India keeper-batter in the T20I format, Dinesh Karthik, recently told Cricbuzz that he would like Rishabh Pant to open for India in the T20I format. Pant, who does not find a place in the Indian team regularly at the moment, has been tried in a variety of roles. However, has not managed to stamp his authority to any of them.

With the Indian openers constantly failing in big tournaments, many have asked for a reset of the Indian batting line-up and Aakash Chopra feels that Rishabh Pant should not be India’s first choice in case a transition happens.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that Prithvi Shaw would be his first choice in case the team were looking for an explosive opener.0

“The first option which comes to my mind is Prithvi Shaw. The guy is naturally destructive, he is disruptive. A lot of people turn back and say that he is not fit, I am saying check his numbers, he is the guy who just takes off,” Chopra said.

“If you want a rocket start, he is an absolute rocket, he simply flies. I am not saying he will fly in every match. Buttler, Hales or anyone else is also not seen flying in every match,” he further added.

Shaw has had an exemplary domestic season but has not been selected for India in 2022. Former head selector Chetan Sharma had said in the middle of the T20 World Cup, that Shaw will be given his due in the coming times.

“At No. 2, I think about Ishan Kishan, a short left-handed destructive batter. Once in a while, he goes into a different scheme of things. When he was with the Mumbai Indians and there was some pressure on him, he started to take singles and play a new role,” Chopra further added on his choices.