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Rohit meme (Image source: Stephenson 2-18)
The Twitterati went insane after watching Rishabh Pant coming out to bat alongside skipper Rohit Sharma in the second ODI against West Indies. At the time of toss, Sharma had said that KL Rahul is available for the game. Rahul was expected to open the innings alongside the skipper. Generally, Shikhar Dhawan opens the innings alongside Sharma but the former was isolated after testing positive for COVID19.
However, Dhawan was seen training with the team ahead of the game but didn't get to feature in the playing XI. Ishan Kishan, who was asked to open the innings in the absence of Rahul was left out. The 33-year-old had made it clear that the team will keep experimenting ahead of the next 20-20 World Cup. Seems like the newly appointed skipper has walked the talk.
Here are the memes made by fans on Twitter
Rishabh Pant - The opening batsman 🧐 #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/iFOs4jbHwA
— Nishant Sharma (@Nishant6862) February 9, 2022
Rahul Dravid in the dressing room with Rishabh Pant teaching him how to open in International Cricket: pic.twitter.com/cFOT7bNtjT
— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) February 9, 2022
Rishabh Pant is opening for Team India pic.twitter.com/Azc0K7lRvi
— THALAPATHY PRAVIN (@Itz_PravinVJ) February 9, 2022
Opening Pair for today's Match.
Rohit Sharma -Ironman
Rishabh Pant - Spiderman pic.twitter.com/6J9iVe91Il— Stephenson 2-18 (@stephenson0218) February 9, 2022
Since I see Rishabh Pant opening, my message to the new team management is pic.twitter.com/DR2jNhi4zn
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) February 9, 2022
When you open Cricbuzz & see Rishabh Pant on strike in 1st over#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/7TSEnm58s0
— Rishabh shah (@Pun_Intended___) February 9, 2022
Rishabh Pant's opening innings will also test viewer's patience #indvwi
— Krishna Haranath (@iamharnad) February 9, 2022
Wait, what? Rishabh Pant is opening? 😮#INDvWI
— Sahil Parsekar (@sahilp10) February 9, 2022
Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has never opened the batting in international cricket. He opened the innings for India U19 alongside Ishan Kishan during the U19 World Cup 2016 in Bangladesh. Pant was the ninth highest run-getter in the tournament with 267 runs in six games, averaging 44.50 with one hundred and two fifties. However, the team went on to lose the final against West Indies.
One reason with Rishabh Pant opening the innings could be that KL Rahul can bat at number five in the team. He has done well for the team in that batting order with, 453 runs at an average of 56.62 in 10 games with two hundreds and four fifties.