Asia Cup 2022: You Want A Batsman Who Can Bail The Side Out Of Difficult Situations - Ajay Jadeja On Rishabh Pant’s Inclusion In India Playing XI
Published - 02 Sep 2022, 05:21 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:12 AM
Former Indian player Ajay Jadeja backed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to cement his position in India’s playing XI in the upcoming matches.
Pant was forced to sit out of the playing XI against Pakistan with veteran player Dinesh Karthik being preferred over him.
However, the decision stunned most of the cricket pandits as Pant’s selection in the first XI looked certain given the impression of his attacking brand of cricket.
Pant was back in the team for the Hong Kong game with all-rounder Hardik Pandya being rested. However, the wicketkeeper didn’t get the opportunity to bat.
Ajay Jadeja stunned by Rishabh Pant’s absence
Pant has won games for India across all formats while playing different roles for the team. His heroics in Australia and England are enough to talk about his composure and temperament.
Jadeja said a player like Pant will be required in crucial games when the top order gets collapsed at an early stage.
“The things Rishabh Pant has done for India over the past 2-3 years… his keeping has improved, and I don’t think there is any batsman in India who has won as many games when the team needed him across all formats,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz.
“India’s major problems in the World Cup has been when the side is reduced to 20/3 in a big game. If the top-order scores runs, it’s fine. But you want a batsman you can bail the side out of difficult situations,” he added.
India enters the super 4 stages of Asia Cup 2022
India has made it through to the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2022 with victories over Pakistan and Hong Kong in Group A.
The Rohit Sharma-led side looks promising to defend the continental title after senior players put in a great amount of effort. The likes of Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav have made a difference with their performances in the last two games.
India will play their first match of the Super 4 stage with the winner between Pakistan vs Hong Kong.
