Towards the end of the second ODI between India and England in Cuttack, the broadcaster`s camera briefly panned to Rishabh Pant sitting in the dug-out, wearing the sleeveless green fluorescent bib which is mandatory for the reserves. On the field, it was KL Rahul batting at No.6, an unusually low position for the man who has been preferred over Pant. Ravi Shastri, who was on air, didn`t hold back while talking about what he felt about a specialist top-order batter like Rahul coming in at No.6 instead of bowling all-rounder Axar Patel, who was promoted to No.5 during the first two games. Many in Indian cricket shared Shastri`s sentiments and are also wondering where does it leave an explosive game-changer like Pant if the management remains firm on the left-right combination formula to promote Axar above Rahul. If ends justify the means, then head coach Gautam Gambhir stood vindicated after Axar scored 52 and 41 not out in the first two games even though he came in at a time when India were well on course for victory.

"India would be thinking about the composition in the next game and Champions Trophy. There is Rishabh Pant sitting on the bench. There are certain questions to answer," Shastri said on air for host broadcasters Star Sports. Pant`s 871 runs at an average of just over 33 in 31 ODIs aren`t exactly great numbers but cricket metrics over the years have changed. One also has to look at the kind of impact a player can make during certain passages of play. If Rahul is being seen as someone, who will come to bat after 30th or the 35th over in ODIs, there is every chance that Pant might make more impact than him. Rahul has had four knocks at No. 6 in which his tally is 42 runs off 46 balls. His highest score is 31. Pant has tallied 45 runs in two games.