IND vs AUS: "Will Be The Best Thing": Wasim Jaffer's Big Statement On Rishabh Pant

Wasim Jaffer, a former Indian batter, has stated that he would select Dinesh Karthik above Rishabh Pant for the opening T20I matchup with Australia.

With a three-match T20I series against the Aaron Finch-led team, Team India under Rohit will begin its T20 World Cup preparations.

The management of the Indian squad must choose between playing both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in the playing XI or only one of these two as the wicketkeeper-batter for the three-match T20I series against Australia.

While Karthik has demonstrated his ability to stylishly end innings, Pant’s performance in the shortest format has not been terrific this year. Dinesh Karthik would be his choice over Pant in the opening T20I matchup with Australia, as per former India batter Wasim Jaffer.

Jaffer added that Rishabh Pant not playing at the World Cup “would be the best thing” because he does not fit in at the number 4 or 5 position.

India needs to figure out whether Rishabh Pant plays or not: Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer as stated that he would select Dinesh Karthik above Rishabh Pant for the opening T20I matchup with Australia.

“They (India) must determine whether or not Rishabh Pant will play. The Indian think tank has given Rishabh Pant serious consideration.

“He has been magnificent, and we have discussed numerous times how, in Test cricket and ODIs, he has performed truly series-winning, game-changing runs, but this has not occurred in T20 internationals or even T20s,” on ESPNcricinfo’s ‘T20 Timeout,’ Jaffer stated.

“So I believe India must decide whether to keep Rishabh Pant in the top six or to keep Dinesh Karthik, who has performed admirably since the IPL, in whatever role he is given. Rishabh Pant, in my opinion, does not belong in positions 4 or 5 ” Wasim Jaffer continued.

Pant has not done much in the shorter format this year, with his best score being 52 against the West Indies in February 2022.

India squad for Australia T20I series: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.

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