Pant needs to justify team's faith soon or else lose place to Samson: Laxman

Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman says Rishabh Pant is fast running out of time to justify time invested in him by team manment and might lose his place to Sanju Samson if he doesn't regain his form soon. Laxman said Sanju Samson's selection in squad for three T20 Internationals against West Indies is a "strong mess" for Pant to eir perform or perish.

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"Pant needs to justify team's faith soon"

" team manment and selection committee have passed on a strong mess that we got a backup in form of Sanju Samson. Rishabh Pant has been given a lot of opportunities and I'm sure that y will be communicating and giving him that security within that group," Laxman told 'Star Sports'.

"But n ultimately player has to justify faith team manment, selection committee has been imposing on him," he said. 

"Unfortunately, Rishabh hasn't been able to do that, but he is that X factor. I still feel that he is an exclusive batsman who can come and change course of match just by his ability to hit good balls out of park."

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t so long ago, Pant was India's number one wicketkeeper-batsman in all three formats but has endured an erratic run of form for some time w. With Wriddhiman Saha back in team, Pant has w lost his place in Test eleven and his place in limited-overs format has also been questioned for lack of runs and his poor work with gloves.  "As a batsman - re's clarity of thoughts, re's doubt that he's under pressure, because how many times have you seen Rishabh Pant when he is in full flow, play and he has a different mindset and technique against spinners. I feel he will be under tremendous pressure to retain his place in playing eleven," Laxman said.

45-year-old former batsman said Pant is still India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman ahead of Samson for next year's T20 World Cup but veteran MS Dhoni is also very much in picture. Dhoni has been on a sabbatical since India's semifinal exit from ODI World Cup in England in July. He has missed tour of West Indies and home series against South Africa and Bangladesh.  38-year-old, whose retirement plans have become a talking point, will also miss limited-overs home assignment against West Indies starting December 6. 

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"I think MS Dhoni will wait with patience to see performance of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Whenever he gets an opportunity and he will take a call after IPL because way I am seeing it, MS Dhoni is preparing himself for IPL. I'm sure he will do well like he has done whenever he plays and leads CSK," said Laxman about Dhoni's future. 

"If both se youngsters don't grab ir opportunities, probably re is a thought that MS Dhoni can come back provided he shows that form in IPL leading up to World Cup. 

"At moment Rishabh Pant would be first choice, his back up would be Sanju Samson and if both se youngsters don't grab se opportunities n you can probably look at MS Dhoni, keeping mind how he performs in IPL," he added.

Laxman was also impressed with Shreyas Iyer's maturity but feels, in absence of an injured Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul should open innings with Rohit Sharma in upcoming series against West Indies. "I was very impressed with way Shreyas Iyer has batted so far. best part about him was when during last T20 International in Nagpur (against Bangladesh) when India lost ir top 3 batsmen, he had ability to assess condition very well and was very versatile in his approach," he said. 

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