Shaw meets Tendulkar, Nehra backs Pant for WC and more - Cricket News Today, 14th February 2019

Nehra calls for Pant's inclusion in India's World Cup squad

Rishabh Pant has had an impressive start to his India career

Former pacer Ashish Nehra has called upon the Indian selectors to include Rishabh Pant in their squad for the 2019 World Cup. Alluding to the left-hander's hard-hitting ability, the 39-year-old believes that the young batsman can be India's X-factor during the mega event in England & Wales.

Labelling Pant as a potential match-winner in the mould of proven performers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, Nehra has urged the think tank to utilise the wicket-keeper batsman's ability to hit sixes almost at will.

Read more on Nehra's views on Pant's World Cup prospects here

"In a team, there will always be contributors but at a big event like the World Cup, you need players with X-factor. Rishabh Pant is not a mere contributor but a pure match-winner who should be picked for the World Cup," Nehra told PTI.

The erstwhile seamer from Delhi added, "If it comes to effortlessly hitting sixes, Rishabh comes second only to Rohit Sharma with his big-hitting ability. India will need that in abundance during the World Cup. No disrespect, this team has three clear match-winners and they are Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. For me, the fourth one is going to be Rishabh Pant."