Former Indian legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has urged the team management to include Rishabh Pant in the starting XI in the T20 World Cup. Gavaskar feels that Pant will give an advantage to the Indian team being a left-hander.
In fact, India doesn’t have any left-hander in their batting line-up apart from Rishabh Pant. Furthermore, Pant has an immaculate record while playing in the Australian conditions in the red-ball version. The pugnacious southpaw had scored a match-winning knock at the Gabba, Brisbane to lead India to a historic win in the previous tour.
However, India won’t play any T20 World Cup matches at the same venue. Thus, it will be interesting to note India’s selection call for the opening T20I against Pakistan. Pant didn’t get to bat in the warm-up match against Australia on Monday.
“These warm-up matches will certainly give us an indication, this is where he created history, he and the Indian team were chasing over 330 in the 4th innings to win a series against Australia. So this is a ground where he will be happy to play on. Sadly there are no World Cup matches over here. But if he score runs here, if he bats well, if he gets the opportunity to bat and scores even a 20 or a quick 30, he becomes an automatic pick in your team,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
Gavaskar feels Rishabh Pant might have an edge over Dinesh Karthik as the former is a left-hander and he can upset the field changes and bowler’s line.
“Because as you said – a left-hander makes a difference to the opposition’s bowling, the opposition captain’s plan, all the field setting, and all the ground dimensions. All of that you take into play when you looking for the final XI. All of this you are taking into account. And if you’re a left-hander like Pant, who is batting well, then you pick him,” Gavaskar added.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant hasn’t been consistent in the T20I format and he might be left out of the starting XI. Dinesh Karthik has performed the role of a finisher with great success and he might be India’s first choice in the final XI.
India will play their first match of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan at the MCG on 23rd October.
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