Harbhajan Singh Optimistic About Rishabh Pant’s Inclusion In ODIs; Lauds Shreyas Iyer

India’s former off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh, noted Divine’s contribution to Shreyas Iyer playing the opening ODI of the three-match series against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The number four batter smacked an aggressive 59 runs in 36 balls at a strike rate of 163.89.

Iyer revealed that he wasn’t part of the initial playing eleven. But Virat Kohli’s last-minute knee injury forced him to play the game, where he contributed after they lost two early wickets in their 249-run chase.

Harbhajan Singh defends management for potentially dropping Shreyas Iyer

Iyer was India’s third-leading run-getter in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The middle-order batter smashed 530 runs in 11 innings at an average of 66.25 and a strike rate of 113.24, with the help of two centuries and three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 128 runs.

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Harbhajan Singh praised Iyer as the proven matchwinner, suggesting that his confidence ultimately earned the due success, especially after the management considered dropping him from the first eleven. But he speculated that perhaps the blue brigade wanted to maintain the right-left combination in the form of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“The team management has selected him in the squad, but they had to decide whether they want to go with him or Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top. I think the team is currently trusting Yashasvi more. Maybe the management is looking to have a right-left combination up top.” The former Punjab spinner expressed during an interaction with Hindustan Times at the Ilt20 in Sharjah.

“This is how the team went. But I think if the management wanted not to play Shreyas, then the only reason was to have Yashasvi Jaiswal up top. Shreyas is a proven performer. He scored a lot of runs in the World Cup. When a player scores so many runs, he thinks he will get opportunities. He is the best in his eye, and hence, even God felt the same.” Harbhajan addressed.

Ex-India spinner hopeful on Rishabh Pant’s ODI inclusion

Harbhajan Singh revealed that Rishabh Pant will get his chances later, as he supported the management’s decision to go with KL Rahul as the wicket-keeper in the opening ODI.

“Rishabh Pant is a very good player, but the way management is thinking right now, it seems like KL Rahul is being preferred as a wicketkeeper-batter option. So now Rishabh Pant will have to wait for his opportunity to come.” Harbhajan Singh elaborated.

“Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson are also in the line. I just hope that the team that is selected right now performs well. I hope KL Rahul performs well. As far as Rishabh Pant, he will eventually be there in the lineup, be it today or tomorrow.” The 44-year-old highlighted.

Pant hasn't cracked the ODI formula yet, with just 871 runs in 27 innings at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21, thanks to five half-centuries and one century. Rahul grabbed his position during the last ODI World Cup with 452 runs in 10 innings.

Not Jasprit Bumrah!! Harbhajan Singh addresses this pacer as ‘Diamond’

Even though the left-arm fast bowler, Arshdeep Singh, didn’t play his first ODI, Harbhajan rates the left-arm seamer’s inclusion as valuable in the squad. He praised the pacer, who is nearing his 100 T20I wicket milestone.

Also Read: KCA Takes A Dig At S Sreesanth For This Reason Over Sanju Samson’s Exclusion

“I had said it earlier as well. Arshdeep Singh is a diamond. He is an excellent bowler. Rishabh can come into the game at any stage. He took 17-18 wickets in the T20 World Cup. Having a left-arm seamer in the squad is very good. That way, you get a different bowler; he has all the skills in the world to be an excellent bowler for India.” Harbhajan Singh concluded.

India will start their campaign on February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Bangladesh. They will face Pakistan and New Zealand on the same ground in the event’s group stage.