Sunil Gavaskar feels India can accommodate each Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant within the taking part in XI by making Hardik Pandya the fifth bowling possibility within the upcoming T20 World Cup.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022 16:35 IST
Sunil Gavaskar explains how each Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant can play in India XI (AFP Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: India nice Sunil Gavaskar defined how each Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant might be accommodated in India’s taking part in XI for the high-octane T20 World Cup match in opposition to Pakistan. Gavaskar feels India can accommodate each Karthik and Pant within the taking part in XI by making Hardik Pandya the fifth bowling possibility within the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Rohit Sharma-led facet, who will open their marketing campaign in opposition to Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday, have two wicketkeeper-batter choices in Karthik and Pant, each of them vying for a spot within the XI.
“It’s just that maybe, if they decide to go with six bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being the sixth bowler, then he (Pant) may not be able to find a place,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Live’.
”But if they decide to go with Hardik Pandya as the fifth bowler, then Rishabh Pant has an opportunity to bat at number six and Karthik maybe at number seven, followed by the four bowlers. So, that could well happen. We just have to wait and see.
”They would certainly want a left-hander in the middle, but looking at the top four, who are in such good form, you sometimes say to yourself, ‘How many overs is Rishabh Pant going to get in? ”Is he going to get three or four overs? And for three or four overs, is Karthik or Rishabh better?’ So, these are all the situations they will look at and they’ll take a call on this,” he mentioned.
Gavaskar additionally spoke about Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and mentioned he appeared to have returned to full health within the warm-up match in opposition to England.
Shaheen returned with figures of 2-0-7-0 in his comeback match in opposition to England on October 17.
”I feel that is what their essential concern was, about his health and the way he would form up. And actually, within the two overs that he bowled, he is proven that he is again to full health.
”So, clearly, that’s one headache gone. I feel with their catching, they have been significantly better than what we noticed in opposition to England.
”Their floor fielding was excellent. So, these are two points that have been worrying them and so they have proven enchancment in these areas. So, I do not assume they’re going to have any questions after they’ll tackle India on Sunday,” Gavaskar concluded.
