Rishabh Pant failed to leave behind a big impact in the last two ODIs against Australia in recently-concluded series, which Australia won by 3-2. He did get off to starts but couldn't convert those into big scores. The aggressive southpaw scored 36 and 16 in only two ODIs he got to prove his credentials against Australia. It is said to be a direct toss-up between Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant for the spot of reserve wicket-keeper batsman for India going into the World Cup.
And Australia's World-Cup winning captain, Ricky Ponting, has backed Pant over Karthik for the World Cup. “I think it's actually a big job for me and the coaches when he comes in, to make him forget what's happened in the last few days. He's probably lucky it happened in the last couple of games. It would have been hard to play all five games under that kind of pressure. Now he's back in a competition where he has dominated in the past. If he can win a couple of games for us then everything will be forgotten. I can't see anyone better than him as a second wicketkeeper in that Indian World Cup squad,” the legendary Aussie was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Rishabh Pant has already impressed in whatever Test matches he has played so far for India. But, in limited-overs format, he has failed to leave the kind of impact that's needed to cement a place in the side.