NZ vs IND 2022: It is time to show him exit doors – Danish Kaneria on Rishabh Pant

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria feels it is time for the Indian selectors to show the exit doors to Rishabh Pant. The southpaw has been given ample opportunities in the white-ball formats but he hasn’t been able to grab them.

Pant has thrown away his wicket in the limited overs formats on multiple occasions, which is not helping his cause. The left-hander had come up with scores of 6 and 11 in the two T20I innings against New Zealand and he could only manage 15 runs in the first ODI versus the Kiwis.

Meanwhile, Kaneria feels there are players like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson who are waiting in the wings and they should get their chances. Samson has an average of 60 in the ODI version and deserves his chances at the top level, but the flamboyant batter was dropped from the second game against the Kiwis.

Danish Kaneria said on his YouTube Channel, “It’s time to give the entire series to Rishabh Pant and then try and show him the exit door. We have given you plenty of opportunities.”

“Many wicket-keeper batters are coming up, like Ishan Kishan has been doing well. He has performed whenever he gets the chance. Sanju has been very consistent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pant has performed consistently in the Test format but his record in the limited overs format hasn’t been up to the mark.

“I have been saying for a long time that Rishabh Pant is a red-ball player. He is a superb player in Test cricket. ODI and T20Is are not his class.

“How he gets out in T20I and ODI cricket puts a lot of pressure on the team, but Sanju builds his innings and takes it to the end, supports the team, provides stability and how he bats, the kind of shots he plays, we can’t forget that,” he said.

Pant has been given a long rope in the white-ball format but he has failed to do justice to his opportunities.

Pant will be seen in action in the third ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday.