Former India wicketkeeper-batter Syed Saba Karim is confident that while Rishabh Pant will perform as both, batter and stumper, more importantly, his vice-captaincy will also play a key role for the Shubman Gill-led side during the England series. India will play the first of five Tests at Leeds, starting on Friday.

“I’m sure about Rishabh. I’m very confident that he will not only be an important performer for the Indian side [as batter and wicketkeeper], but also his leadership skills, being vice-captain, will also come to the fore,” Karim told mid-day on Tuesday. Pant, 27, has represented the country in 43 Tests, scoring 2,948 runs, including six centuries.

Saba Karim