The big ticket event ODI World Cup 2023 is standing next door & team India is living no stone unturned to win their first ICC title in over a decade. The team management & National team Selectors have already donned their thinking cap and are figuring out players who can replace some key players of the Indian team who are recovering from their injuries. While injured players Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul & Shreyas Iyer have shown a sign of great recovery & are all set to complete their rehabilitation on time & feature in the marquee event. But the concern is around the recovery of Rishabh Pant who is still not match-ready & is completing his rehabilitation at the NCA. Inorder to fill the void created by the absence of Rishabh Pant, Selectors have to figure out players who can replace Rishabh Pant in India Squad for ODI World Cup 2023.
For the unversed, Rishabh Pant sustained multiple injuries in a car accident in December 2022. But by God’s grace & the prayers of his thousands of fans he is recovering at a faster pace but it’s still unclear whether he could be able to make it for the ODI World Cup 2023 or will have to wait for some time. But the National selectors have opened their eagle’s eye to choose Players who can Replace Rishabh Pant in the ODI World Cup 2023.
So without wasting time let’s have a look at 3 Players who can replace Rishabh Pant in India’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2023:
3 Players who can Replace Rishabh Pant in ODI World Cup 2023
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Ishan Kishan
When Players who can replace Rishabh Pant in the India squad in ODI World Cup 2023 are discussed, Ishan Kishan’s name tops the list. The youngster has displayed consistent performances for the Indian team in the limited-overs format so far. He received the opportunity to showcase his talent in the white ball series against West Indies & he didn’t leave the chance to prove his prowess. In the three-match ODI series, Ishan Kishan has maintained his standards with the bat by returning with scores of 52,55 & 77 runs respectively.
Rishabh’s career graph saw an upward growth after he managed to register his maiden double ton in the ODI format against Bangladesh in December 2022. On the grounds of Chattogram, he scripted history by scoring 210 runs & guiding India to a scintillating win. Notably, during the same fixture Ishan achieved another accolade by registering the fourth-highest partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli by scoring 290 runs. He also holds the record of the No 1 batter with no dismissals for ducks in ODIs, Tests & T20Is.
If Rishabh Pant fails to recover on time then Ishan Kishan is one of the players who could replace him in the India squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. Though India has their designated wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul as their first choice but looking at his injury spate, Ishan Kishan could be their second option for Rishabh Pant’s place. Not to forget Ishan Kishan has also performed well as an opener & provided the team with splendid starts Chattogram ODI is a sheer example of his opening skills.
Ishan comes sixth in the list of highest runs in an innings scored by an opener. He also enjoys the record of the third batter to score the most runs from sixes & fours in an ODI innings. His skills as a wicket-keeper need some polishing considering the nature of World Cup 2023. And if he is groomed well as a wicket-keeper then he could successfully take Rishabh Pant place in the marquee event.
ODI matches played: 17
ODI Runs Scored: 694
Strike rate: 107.43
Records owned by Ishan Kishan in ODIs
6 batter with the most runs in an Inngings as an Opener: 210 vs Bangladesh
Highest Maiden Hundred in ODI: 210 vs Bangladesh
Highest partnership for the second wicket in ODIs: 290 run stand with Virat Kohli vs Bangladesh
Third highest runs in innings from fours & sixes: 24 fours & 10 sixes vs Bangladesh
No Ducks dismissal from 2021-2023: 48 matches with 0 ducks
2) KL Rahul
India’s one of the best wicket-keeper batters KL Rahul is the perfect replacement for Rishabh Pant in India’s squad for ODI World Cup 2023. KL Rahul perfectly fits the criteria of a wicket-keeper batter performing at Rishabh Pant’s spot in the middle order in 50 overs format. As a wicket-keeper for India Rahul has played in 14 ODIs for India returning with figures of 656 runs at an average of 59.63 & at a strike rate of 102.66 with one ton & six fifties in his kitty. His century as a wicket-keeper came against New Zealand in 2020. In oDI KL Rahul has performed exceptionally in the middle order by batting at no 5.
Looking at his spell-bounding records while doing wicket-keeping for India he is the best replacement he is one of the best players who can replace Rishabh Pant in India’s squad in the ODI World Cup 2023. KL is the one who has returned with a century in his debut fixture. Batting at No 5 in 18 ODI innings KL has managed a stunning average of 50 with a strike rate of 99.33.
KL Rahul has batted well at number 5th position in 18 ODI innings he has an average of 50 with a strike rate of 99.33. His aggressive approach in India’s second ODI against Sri Lanka where he returned with scores of 64 in 103 balls at Eden Gardens helped India to register a hard-fought win despite the collapse of the batting order. Looking at KL Rahul’s scintillating records as a wicket-keeper batter in ODI he seems to be a perfect replacement for Rishabh Pant in the ODI World Cup 2023.
ODI Matches Played: 54
ODI Runs Scored: 1986
Strike Rate: 86.57
Records owned by KL Rahul in ODIs:
Hundred on ODI Debut: He scored an unbeaten 100 off 115 balls against Zimbabwe
7 Consecutive fifties in all formats of Cricket
3) Sanju Samson
Indian fan’s favorite one & only Sanju Samson comes third on our list of Players who could replace Rishabh Pant in the India Squad in the ICC World Cup 2023. Samson was named in India’s limited overs series agaisnt India where he made a cut into India’s ODI squad for the final two fixtures. But again when provided an opportunity he couldn’t do wonders with the bat.
In the second ODI Sanju was dismissed for a meager score of 9 runs off 19 balls. But he tried to bounce back & made a solid comeback in the third ODI by returning with scores of 51 off 41 guiding India to a resounding 200-run win. However, his inconsistent performances can act as an obstacle in his dream of playing his first ODI World Cup 2023. Despite his poor performance in the five-match T20I series selectors can give him another chance to prove his prowess by naming him in the Asia Cup 2023 Squad.
Notably, His stunning average of 55.71 in 13 matches in the ODI format can give selectors a reason to include him in the Asia Cup 2023 squad. If manage to make a cut into the Asia Cup squad & display outstanding performance in the marquee event then only his chances of making a cut into the ODI World Cup 2023 squad get increased. So looking at the current scenario & Asia Cup in the picture, Sanju Samson could be one of the players who can replace Rishabh Pant in India’s squad for the ODI World Cup 2023.
ODI Matches Played: 13
ODI Runs Scored: 333
Strike rate: 131.62
Specific Records in ODI: No
These are our picks of 3 players who can replace Rishabh Pant in the ODI World Cup 2023 Squad. If you have more such suggestions & can complete the list you can surely do that! We are waiting for your answers!
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