India Star Rishabh Pant Urged To 'Shake Everyone' And Reclaim Spot Over Sanju Samson In T20Is
India has showcased remarkable form in T20I cricket over the past year, winning the T20 World Cup 2024 unbeaten and securing series victories against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and England. A key contributor to this success has been Sanju Samson, who opened the batting and scored three centuries. However, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Rishabh Pant could challenge for a spot in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
Chopra noted that despite India's recent successes, the T20 playing XI is not set in stone. Pant, who was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has been named captain and faces significant expectations. Chopra urged Pant to seize this opportunity to impress selectors, stating, "Come and score so many runs so that everyone is shaken."
While there is speculation about Pant potentially opening for LSG, Chopra advised against it, suggesting he should focus on establishing his place in the middle order instead. Despite being part of India's World Cup-winning squad, Pant has struggled to maintain his position in T20s. With the next World Cup scheduled for early 2026 in India, performances in IPL 2025 will be crucial for players vying for selection.