‘He has to come back and play’ – Former India pacer opens up about Rishabh Pant’s possible inclusion into India’s squad for T20I World Cup

As the T20 World Cup 2024 draws near, discussions on India’s wicketkeeper position intensify, with former pacer Zaheer Khan offering a distinctive perspective. Despite Rishabh Pant’s notable contributions, Khan believes Pant’s return to the squad isn’t guaranteed, even with an outstanding performance in the IPL 2024.

In a discussion on Colours Cineplex, Khan acknowledged Pant’s challenging journey and emphasised the hurdles he faces in making a comeback. Expressing happiness for Pant’s return to the field, Khan cautioned that readjusting to the competitive level and regaining rhythm might take time.

“If you see Rishabh Pant’s journey, the turn he has gone through is not easy for any player. Firstly, everyone who is attached to cricket will be happy once he comes back on the field. He has a lot of hurdles to cross,” Zaheer Khan said in a discussion on Colours Cineplex.

“Firstly, he has to come back and play. It’s not easy at this level. You need to get used to it and get the rhythm back. Those things might take time. It’s great if it doesn’t. However, keeping all things in mind, even if he has a very good IPL, I don’t think the team will be thinking in that direction,” he added.

KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant: Oppies Pragyan Ojha

Zaheer Khan’s view aligns with several other cricket experts, including former cricketer Pragyan Ojha, who suggested alternative picks for the wicketkeeper role. Ojha emphasised the potential choices of KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma over Pant.

“Based on what I am seeing, I feel it will be KL Rahul and Jitesh Sharma. Rishabh Pant’s name will always be taken because of the impact he has made. However, it needs to be seen how he proves his fitness,” Ojha stated.

With differing opinions among experts, the final decision on India’s T20 World Cup squad remains a matter of speculation. The competition for the wicketkeeper slot is fierce, and Pant’s journey to secure his place is closely monitored, keeping in mind both his past contributions and the challenges he faces in the lead-up to the prestigious tournament. Apart from him, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, KL Rahul, and Dhruv Jurel are currently in the mix.