"Hope It's Not Long-term...": India Great Gautam Gambhir On Team Dropping Rishabh Pant Against Pakistan

29.08.2022 - 10:37 sports.ndtv.com

Ahead of the India-Pakistan match at the Asia Cup 2022, skipper Rohit Sharma sprung a surprise at the toss as he announced Rishabh Pant was not part of the Indian playing XI.

Instead, the Indian team management went ahead with the veteran Dinesh Karthik. Over the last one year, Karthik has excelled in the finisher's role.

He has performed consistently well for his franchise too in the Indian Premier League. Pant, on the other hand, has been as the first-choice wicketkeeper for quite some time now.

However, Gautam Gambhir said that consistency in playing XI was needed with the 2022 T20 World Cup in two months' time. "I won't experiment from now on because how many games do we have… this Asia Cup?

cricket India Cricket Team 2022 on Rohit Sharma Gautam Gambhir Star Sports Rishabh Pant India Pakistan

Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team management must be feeling a lot light right now after the star batter ended his 1020-day century drought in style at the Asia Cup. Kohli 122* - the highest T20I score by an Indian - could not have come at a better time as the Rohit Sharma-led side prepares for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Kohli's ton against Afghanistan came while he was opening the batting for India. This has led many to ponder whether Kohli, who generally bats at No. 3 in T20Is, can be used as an opener.

"His Downfall Is Too Many...": Ex-Pakistan Captain On Rishabh Pant's T20 Struggles

Rishabh Pant has been chosen as one of the two wicketkeepers in India's 15-member squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, along with Dinesh Karthik. However, the young left-hand batter's T20 form has not been great of late. In the recently concluded Asia Cup, his scores read 14, 17 and 20*. He has a career strike-rate of 126.21 and average of 23.94 in 58 T20Is. His below-par recent T20 form has led many experts to back Dinesh Karthik in the XI. Former Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Butt had an interesting take on Pant's regular failures in T20Is.

Irfan Pathan Suggests India Playing XI For T20 World Cup Opener Against Pakistan, Omits Young Star

After the BCCI selectors announced a 15-member squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, all eyes are on the potential playing XI when the Indian cricket team starts its campaign against Pakistan on October 23. With the Indian squad bearing a tried and tested look, all the named players have enough experience on their side. So, picking a perfect XI might be a difficult job for the team management. Former Indian cricket team player Irfan Pathan has given his take on the ideal playing XI and has omitted wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant from it.

Wasim Jaffer Invokes MS Dhoni As He Asks Rohit Sharma To "Take A Punt" On Rishabh Pant

The Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup was announced on Monday and there wasn't any major surprise in the selection. There has been a lot of talk about the way India should bat when setting a target and several former players have been expressing their views on India's batting order. The latest to join the bandwagon is former India opener Wasim Jaffer.

"Would Play Both Rishabh Pant And Dinesh Karthik": Sunil Gavaskar On T20 World Cup Playing XI

India's T20 World Cup squad was announced on Monday and both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik found a place in the 15-member squad. After the announcement, Dinesh Karthik took to Twitter to say that "dreams do come true." Now, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that he would play both Pant and Karthik in his playing XI for the upcoming World Cup, and he gave the reasoning, saying risks need to be taken if you want to win a marquee event.

Watch: Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh Miss Run Outs At Both Ends, Overthrow Seals Sri Lanka Win

The match between India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup saw one more final-over thriller as the Dasun Shanaka-led side continued their resurgence since their opening match defeat against Afghanistan. With Sri Lanka needing two runs off the final two deliveries in Dubai, Arshdeep Singh bowled a short slower ball that Shanaka could not get bat on. The Sri Lanka skipper, however, started to run for the single, with Bhanuka Rajapaksa steaming down to the striker's end. Rishabh Pant missed his throw at the stumps, meaning Rajapaksa could get in safe, but Arshdeep had a chance of running Shanaka out at the non-striker's end.