Asia Cup 2018: 5 players that were royally ignored by selectors for Asia Cup

1. Rishabh Pant

Semi Final 1 - ICC Under 19 World Cup

A devastating left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant came into prominence after his performances for India in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. Initially, Pant was inconsistent as he tried to be over-aggressive. In an interview, he himself acknowledged that he has changed his strategy towards the game. He has now learned to play a responsible cricket according to the situation.

Rishabh Pant rediscovered himself in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy this year. He was the highest run-scorer in the tournament. He also had an amazing IPL season. He amassed a massive 684 runs in 14 innings at a scintillating strike rate of 173.60.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant played an exceptional knock of 128* off just 63 balls. Pant also hit the most sixes and fours in this IPL season, the count being 37 sixes and 68 fours.

Pant has also played brilliantly and sensibly in all formats for Indian A in the recently completed England tour. He put a big fight in the last inning of the last test in England by scoring a good hundred. He failed continuously in the first 5 innings, but he took all the criticism positively and fought back in the last inning.

Nobody knows what Pant has to do to get into the good books of the selectors. He was again ignored by the selectors for the Asia Cup. Being a southpaw, he is an excellent candidate to bat in the middle order with his ability to change the gear in an inning.