New Delhi: Soon after Delhi Daredevils batsman Rishab Pant left the cricket fraternity awestruck with a sensational 43-ball 97 against The Gujarat Lions, wishes poured in from all corners to congratulate the youngster. The 19-year-old is making the noises at the right time with the Board of Control for Cricket for Cricket in India (BCCI) to announce the 15-time squad for upcoming Champions Trophy anytime soon.
Rishab might have played just one T20 international for the Men in Blue, but former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra reckons that the selectors should give Rishab a chance by picking him in the squad.
"Strike when the iron is hot. Play a youngster when he's in Red Hot Form. I'd pick Pant for the Champions Trophy. Will you?" Chopra tweeted.
Strike when the iron is hot. Play a youngster when he's in Red Hot Form. I'd pick Pant for the Champions Trophy. Will you? #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 4, 2017
Soon after his tweet, one of the fans reminded him of former Kings XI Punjab batsman Paul Valthaty, who proved to be a one-season wonder.
'Too early to decide..Remember Paul Valthaty," the fan tweeted.
@cricketaakash Too early to decide..Remember Paul Valthaty
— Vasanth Rajapandian (@thisisvasant) May 4, 2017
In his reply, Chopra replied back reminding the fan of Yuvraj Singh, who made his ODI debut in ICC Champions Trophy in 2000.
Remember Yuvraj Singh??? https://t.co/j2vaJLnjdw
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 4, 2017
Chasing an imposing 209 to win, Pant (97) and Samson (61) recorded a match-winning partnership of 143 off 63 balls for the second wicket to script the second-highest successful runchase in IPL history en route to Delhi's seven wicket win over Gujarat Lions.
From Sachin Tendular to Virender Sehwag, everybody lauded the remarkable partnership, especially Rishab's power packed performance, where he missed out on his maiden IPL ton by three runs.
It remains to be seen whether the selectors will pick him for the Champions Trophy as a reserve keeper considering Mahendra Singh Dhoni still remains to be the selectors' favourite choice.
