"Dinesh Karthik Is Better Option" Than Rishabh Pant For Asia Cup: Cheteshwar Pujara

28.08.2022 - 11:15 sports.ndtv.com

India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara feels it's "impossible" to include both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in the playing XI during the Asia Cup T20 tournament, given the team's settled top-order.

The top-order comprises KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, who Pujara describes as one of India's top T20 batters currently.

They are followed by the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, leaving space for only one player among Pant and Karthik. "It's a big headache for the team management as both (Pant and Karthik) are doing really well in T20 format.

The call is whether you want someone to bat at No.5 or you want a finisher who can bat at No. 6 or 7," Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo T20 Time:out. "So, I would say, if you want someone at No.

cricket India Cricket Team 2022 cup Suryakumar Yadav Cheteshwar Pujara Kl Rahul India Pakistan

India announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia on Monday. The squad consisted of almost a similar team which featured in Asia Cup 2022, and also included Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel, who were earlier injured. Batters like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, who failed to leave a mark in the Asia Cup have also been included in the squad. Ever since the announcement of the squad has been done, fans and experts have been expressing their take on the players. Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar stated that Team India should have gone ahead with Mohammed Shami and Umran Malik and opening batter Shubman Gill in the squad.

"Rishabh And DK Need To Play": Cheteshwar Pujara On India's Team For T20 World Cup

While there has been a raging debate about who should play for India between Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in the T20I team, Cheteshwar Pujara said that ideally both wicketkeepers should make the playing XI come the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. While Dinesh Karthik, picked to play the finisher's role, barely got a chance to bat in the Asia Cup, while Rishabh Pant could not impress when he did get to bat. But Pujara still thinks that Pant should be in the middle order, with Karthik continuing as finisher.

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Asia Cup Super 4 stage. A 40 run win against minnows Hong Kong, who are ranked 20th in the ICC T20I team rankings also meant that India finished as the toppers of Group A, with 2 wins in their two league stage matches. So far this edition of the Asia Cup, which is only the second edition of the tournament that is being played in the T20 format after the one in 2016, has produced some great cricket overall.

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Suryakumar Yadav said he is flexible enough to bat anywhere in the Indian T20 team, having turned out for the Men in Blue in various roles, including opening the innings. Suryakumar scored a scintillating 26-ball 68 not out to pave the way for India's 40-run win over Hong Kong and sail into the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.

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