Gambhir reasons why selecting DK over Pant for the Indian playing XI is dangerous
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, stated last week that his starting lineup for the 2022 T20 World Cup is already decided since he disapproves of making “last-minute” preparations. However, the discussion about India’s potential starting lineup for the crucial encounter against Pakistan and the subsequent group stage matches in the competition is still ongoing. The primary topics of discussion are the first-choice wicketkeeper and the third pacer. On Friday, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir responded to both, but he also issued Rohit Sharma a severe warning.
Two days before India’s World Cup campaign at the Melbourne Cricket Ground began, Gambhir gave his opinion to Zee, saying that Rishabh Pant would be a better option for batting than Dinesh Karthik because the former has demonstrated a desire to play only as a finisher and the latter has greater versatility. Additionally, he claimed that choosing Karthik would restrict India’s options if they lost early wickets because the right-hander can only bat in slog overs.
“In my current Squad, Axar Patel should start at No. 7, Rishabh Pant at No. 5, and Hardik Pandya at No. 6. But Dinesh Karthik will play based on what we’ve seen in the exhibition games. However, a player is not chosen merely to play 10 balls. Choose a guy who can bat at No. 5 or No. 6. Dinesh Karthik hasn’t, however, indicated that he does. In Australia, if you lose early wickets, you might have to send in Axar Patel early because you wouldn’t want to expose Hardik early. He and the team management have made it clear that they intend for him to bat only in the last 2-3 overs. For this reason, Pant was chosen for my current Squad. But once more, it won’t happen,” he said.
Mohammed Shami, who lined up in place of the injured Japsrit Bumrah, is in Gambhir’s opinion India’s first-choice pacer.
“You will be required to use three pacers. Before Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami should be chosen. The sixth bowling option and fourth seamer will both be Hardik Pandya. We all know that Shami is quite good with the new ball, but we also saw how he performs with the old ball during the match against Australia. Shami will go first. You should choose between Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep. Because of his prior experience bowling in the death, Harshal ought to be chosen, the expert continued.
Gambhir reasons why selecting DK over Pant for the Indian playing XI is dangerous
