If Rishabh Pant succeeds as an opener, it would be great: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed the idea first suggested by Shane Warne that India can try out opening with Rishabh Pant alongside Rohit Sharma.

“Yes, why not. If you open with Rishabh Pant, it opens up a third option for you as well. If he does well at the top, he is someone who can also be played in the middle order,” Gavaskar told India Today on Thursday. (ALSO READ: I genuinely believed that I could hit six: Dinesh Karthik on not giving the strike to Krunal Pandya)

Australia spin great Warne was the first to throw up the idea and explained that it the X-factor might just work.

“I can’t see why Rishabh Pant can’t play as a batsman. He is outstanding. Maybe even open the batting with Rohit Sharma. I know Shikhar Dhawan does a great job but Rishabh Pant opening the batting with Rohit Sharma could be pretty cool too for India. Go with some of these X-factor type things and tactical battles where you surprise the opposition,” Warne had said.

“It could be worth throwing Rishabh Pant at the top of the order for a couple of games and see how he goes. Maybe against Australia now (upcoming series) and experiment and see how he goes for the World Cup. Dhawan may have a role to play somewhere else. But I am really looking forward to seeing what India have because they have a lot of players who can do a lot of roles.” (ALSO READ: Want Rishabh Pant to open the innings with Rohit Sharma in Australia series: Shane Warne)

While Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan have been one of India’s most successful opening pairs, the southpaw has registered only cameos off late with a big innings still eluding him.

“Pant is a left hander as well. It’s important to have a left-right combination going because it does make the bowlers’ task that much more difficult. That’s why Rohit-Dhawan have been so successful. So have Sachin-Ganguly and Sehwag-Ganguly in the past. So, if Pant succeeds as an opener, that’s great for your side,” Gavaskar explained. (ALSO READ: India series great chance to prove my worth: Jason Behrendorff)

The selection committee will meet in Mumbai on Friday to pick the squad for the limited-overs series against Australia and Pant’s could be zeroed in as an opener.