‘Rishabh Pant does not fit in’ – Wasim Jaffar Opines To Leave The Indian Wicket-keeper Out Of The 20-20 World Cup Team
Wasim Jaffar speaks about Rishabh Pant (Image Source: Twitter)
Team India recently experienced a very bad Asia Cup campaign in UAE. After that, they are now preparing to face Australia in a three-match home T20I series. The series is going to start on 20 September 2022. However, on 12 September, the Indian selectors announced the final squad for the upcoming 20-20 World Cup.
Several reports were there that Rishabh Pant can be dropped ahead of the World Cup. But, selectors went with Pant and Karthik only. Meanwhile, former India batter, Wasim Jaffar thinks that leaving Rishabh Pant will be best for India in the upcoming mega event. He raised doubts if Rishabh Pant fits or not in the team.
“I feel leaving out Rishabh Pant in the World Cup will be the best thing,” – Wasim Jaffar
While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Wasim Jaffar said that Rishabh Pant has failed to deliver top performances in the middle order for India in the shortest format of the game. That’s why Dinesh Karthik should start ahead of him. He said: “I think Axar Patel has done really well in recent times, so I don’t know why India has not trusted him, because he has won matches with his batting.”
He added that team India need to clarify Pant’s position within the team. “India need to figure out whether Rishabh Pant plays or not. The Indian think tank has been thinking a lot about putting Rishabh Pant in. He has been brilliant and we have talked about it many times. In Test cricket and in the ODIs, he has played series-winning, game-changing knocks, but that has not happened in T20 internationals or even in T20s,” Jaffar said.
“So India need to figure out if they want to stick with Rishabh Pant in the top six or if they want to play Dinesh Karthik, who has done really well since the Indian Premier League. For me personally, Rishabh Pant does not fit in number 4 or 5. His best place is to open the batting, which I don’t think will happen. I feel leaving out Rishabh Pant in the World Cup will be the best thing,” Wasim Jaffar concluded.
