Rishabh Pant to be the X-factor for India in World T20, claims Sourav Ganguly

With next year’s World T20 fast approaching and India already involved in formulating a starting XI for the tournament next summer, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has had his say on who can make a difference for the Men in Blue. The legendary figure believes that apart from the usual suspects Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two highest run-getters of all time in the game’s shortest format, it will emerging wicket keeper Rishabh Pant who will be India’s player to watch out for.

“I think India is strong. India is strong and powerful. I wouldn't go back to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the X-factors because they are the X-factor players. Rohit Sharma's performance in the World Cup was unreal, five World  Cup hundreds. Although India lost in the semi-finals, India played well in the World Cup. I think when you talk about X-factors and you talk about future players, Rishabh Pant will be the one to watch,” he said in a video for Cricbuzz.

The 21-year-old has been tasked with succeeding one of India’s most successful captain of all time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose achievements fanfare among the Indian public means that the same is a huge responsibility. However, judging by his performances in the domestic circuit, Pant looks the perfect replacement who can have a bright future with the team even though he has failed to emulate the same success in national colours.

“Just be patient with him. I see the country goes up and down every time he gets dismissed. Every time Pant hits a ball in the air, Twitter goes berserk. 'When will he learn to build an innings' and all that. But if you want to have a match-winner, you have to set him free. You will have people who will defend, who will prod, who will rotate and India has a lot of them. Shikhar Dhawan can do that, Virat Kohli himself can do that, but you need the likes of Pant and Pandya to bring the X-factor. To bring the explosive thing, the game-changing thing that you need to win matches. I think Pant will be a huge force in Indian cricket,” Ganguly added.

He also named the duo of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and India’s strike bowler as the players who can lead India to victories on their own given their recent displays.

“Hardik Pandya has got better and better, with the ball and the bat.  He is an improved cricketer which happens when you play consistently at this level. I think Jasprit Bumrah is another X-factor for Indian cricket,” he concluded.