IND vs WI: Is Yuvraj Singh being sacrificed for young guns like Rishabh Pant?

After winning their second ODI against West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, Indian captain Virat Kohli gave a hint about reorganising the team for their third ODI. India will be playing their third ODI in Antigua where chances of Rishabh Pant padding up is high.

“We’ll sit down and decide as a team about changes that can be made. We’ll go to Antigua and regroup, and that’s a possibility as well, give a few guys an opportunity,” Kohli said in a press meet.

If everything goes in favour, the 19 year old will get his first ODI cap on Friday, June 30. This also means that the senior campaigner Yuvraj Singh will have to sacrifice his spot.

Post India’s loss to Pakistan in Champions Trophy, Rahul Dravid opined that it’s high time that BCCI take a quick-call on MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh.

 “It is a call that has got to be taken by the selectors and the management. And what they see as the road map for Indian cricket, and where they see the role of both these cricketers going ahead for the next couple of years. Is there a place for both of them? Is there a place for only one of them?” said Dravid.

Numbers don’t lie

A close look at the numbers between Yuvraj Singh and Rishabh Pant will prove why it is the right time to test Pant’s skill.

Yuvraj Singh has managed to score just 4 and 14 in the first two games of the series which is not a good sign for India’s middle order. The ‘middle order’ worry has to be sorted ahead of 2019 World Cup.

There have been speculations about Dhoni’s position in the team as well. But keeping in mind that he is firm behind the wickets as a wicket-keeper, his chances of making place for Pant or any other player is very low as compared to Yuvraj’s.

Pant’s performance in the 2017 IPL was an eye-opener for the selectors. He scored 366 runs for Delhi Daredevils in 14 matches that he played. His batting in last year’s Ranji Trophy was also remarkable. He scored a century against Jharkhand in only 48 balls to create the record of fastest century in the history of Ranji Trophy.

He also became the youngest T20 International player for India, making his debut against England.

So, Virat Kohli has an option for a ‘trial and error’ method in the playing eleven in the upcoming third ODI against the Caribbeans, to make the middle-order stronger.

India is now leading the 5 match ODI series with 1-0.

• Rishabh Pant
• Yuvraj Singh
• Virat Kohli
• India vs West Indies