There is debate over the inclusion of Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant in the India 11 playing squad. But Australia’s legendary goalkeeper Adam Gilchrist has supported Rishabh Pant. Gilchrist has said that left-handed batsman Pant should be in the playing XI.
The India team has not yet been able to decide how it will be given a place in game 11 between Karthik and Pant. While Karthik claims to be a specialist finisher in this format, there is no denying that Pant is a left-handed hitter. However, Pant’s T20 record isn’t very impressive.
Said Gilchrist, “The bravery and courage with which Pant goes against the opposition bowling, I think Pant should definitely be in the XI. They can both play together, but I think Pant should be in the XI.”
Karthik played in the first match against Pakistan in the recently held Asian Cup, but Pant entered the XI in the next match against Hong Kong. In Super Four matches, Pant played against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, but in the first T20 against Australia in Mohali, Karthik was selected.
Although Gilchrist backed Pant, he also admires Karthik’s finishing skills and believes the two can play as a team.
Previously, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that India should try to put both Karthik and Pant in the same XI, which has happened on the first few occasions. Ponting said on the ICC Review Show: “I really think these two players in the best team in India are Karthik and Pant. I don’t care if they are both goalkeepers, but I think their batting is good enough. Rishabh in the middle order and Dinesh as a finisher, they seem extremely dangerous to me.