Rishabh Pant made his maiden World Cup 2019 appearance batting at No.4, ahead of in-form Hardik Pandya, in India’s mammoth chase against England on Sunday, leaving many surprised. Hardik Pandya was promoted to bat at No.4 during India’s previous matches against Pakistan and Australia, with his quick cameos coming handy for India.

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However, India’s deputy captain Rohit Sharma, who addressed the media after India’s loss to England in the World Cup 2019 clash, saw the funny side of Rishabh Pant stepping in to bat at No.4.

Asked if he was surprised to see Rishabh at the critical No. 4 position instead of Hardik Pandya who is in form, Rohit paused before replying sarcastically, “Not really because all you guys wanted Rishabh Pant to play, right. All you guys, right, from India? Where is Rishabh Pant? Where is Rishabh Pant? There he is at Number 4.”

Watch the video here which was uploaded by BCCI :

Vice-captain @ImRo45 lightened up the post-match press conference when asked about Rishabh Pant 😁😁 #TeamIndia #ENGvIND #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/NSv3zVqFT3

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 30, 2019

Pant’s exclusion at the expense of Vijay Shankar was a widely debated topic at the start of the tournament in the United Kingdom. The No. 4 made 32 off 29 balls on his World Cup debut at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Rohit, however, feels that the 21-year old lacks confidence and would do when he doesn’t play under pressure. “He just needs confidence because, obviously, playing his first game, expecting a lot is not right at the moment from him, but he should just come and play and enjoy his cricket. When he does that, he will do well,” he said.

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Check out some of the reactions here :

I think Pant spoiled the game .. He’s struggled to score so you’re in pressure about the run rate and that’s why you lose your wic just after scored a hundred

— Anush Priya (@Anushpriya2) June 30, 2019

Pls pls pls don’t drop that kid. Please let him play…. Rishab is farrrrr better than Shankar….

Please ffs

— Virat kohli (@kohli_forever) June 30, 2019

Compared to vijay shankar#RishabhPant shot selection is gud..

Bad luck he couldn’t convert 30’s in to his 1st half century

He just need some experience..#INDvENG

— నా కామెంట్ నా ఇష్టం (@pichhimalokam) June 30, 2019

@ImRo45 killed it with that answer 🤣

— Aarushi Singhi (@AarushiSinghi) June 30, 2019

Love the way he always answered media 🥰hitman 🥰

— Goutam kumar Sahoo (@Vampire_Gauti) June 30, 2019

The 21-year-old Pant made his sixth One-Day International (ODI) appearance. He is yet to score a century or half-century in this format.

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Pant was the only change for away team in the India vs England World Cup 2019 match. Shankar, who has been replaced in the playing XI, made three appearances at the World Cup 2019 but did not perform as per expectations.