Abhinav Mukund Advocates for Rishabh Pant as Opener for IPL 2027

New Delhi, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund has called on the Delhi Capitals to reassess their batting lineup, particularly with Rishabh Pant’s return to the team. He believes that for the IPL 2027 season, Pant should open alongside KL Rahul.

Mukund emphasized that while Delhi boasts a wealth of talent in the top order, it faces a shortage of solid options in the middle order. Therefore, deciding Pant’s batting position will be crucial for the team’s strategy as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Discussing his preferred opening combination, Mukund stated that Pant’s role should align with the team’s overall batting needs. He pointed out the presence of several capable players in the top order, including Prithvi Shaw, Nitish Rana, Abhishek Porel, Pathum Nissanka, Karun Nair, and Sahil Parakh.

In an interview with ‘GeoStar,’ Mukund expressed, “I would like to see Rishabh bat in the top three. If Delhi Capitals want to solve this issue, why not have Pant and Rahul open? That would be my first move since I am struggling to find middle-order batsmen, while there are plenty of options for the top order.”

However, Mukund also acknowledged that Pant has been effective in the middle order for Delhi in the past. He mentioned that if it fits the team’s strategy, Pant could also be slotted in at number four. His recommendations take into account Pant’s recent performances in the middle order and potential shifts in team strategy with the arrival of new support staff.

He remarked, “You would want a player like Rishabh to bat higher up because you’ve just traded for him. Over the last two years, he hasn’t found much success at number four or five. Perhaps things will change for him in Delhi, where he was quite successful in his early years as a middle-order batsman. Therefore, if you want to play him at four, do so. Then you can utilize the other options you have. The new support staff, including Dada (Sourav Ganguly) and Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), brings in fresh perspectives. We will have to wait and see what kind of team they build.”

In addition to batting order discussions, Mukund raised concerns about the Delhi Capitals’ decision to trade T. Natarajan to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in exchange for Jishan Ansari. He questioned the necessity of this trade, given that the franchise already has similar spin-bowling options, particularly Vipraj Nigam. He also expressed worry about how many specialist spinners could fit into the playing eleven alongside Axar Patel.

Mukund expressed surprise at the release of Natarajan, stating, “I was shocked when they released Natarajan or traded him for Jishan Ansari. Delhi already has players like Vipraj Nigam, who can bowl leg-spin and bat as well. How many spinners can you field simultaneously? Therefore, I felt that SRH benefitted more from this trade than Delhi Capitals did. I don’t understand the rationale behind trading for Jishan Ansari.”