IND vs SA: Just Give A Break To Rishabh Pant - Danish Kaneria

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria reckoned Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to take a break from playing international cricket because of lack of form.

Pant, who is leading the Indian team in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, has managed to accumulate 57 runs in four outings, averaging 14.25.

What is going wrong with Rishabh Pant?

Pant registered 29, 5, 6 & 17 after facing 54 balls in the last four matches. Experts like Sunil Gavaskar pointed out how Pant gets tempted to play the outside off-stump ball and falls into the ploy. After India defeated South Africa by 82 runs in the fourth game in Rajkot, Pant too admitted that there are certain areas in his batting that he needs to improve.

On the contrary, 37-year-old Dinesh Karthik by leaps and bounds is making a strong case for his selection for the T2o World Cup. Karthik returned to the Indian side on the back of a phenomenal IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Karthik replicated his heroics for the Indian side as he scored his maiden T20I half-century in the fourth match despite making his debut in India’s first T20I match against South Africa in 2006. Karthik slammed 55 off 27 balls to power India to a respectable 169/6 and they eventually won by 82 runs to level the series 2-2.

Rishabh Pant is an immense talent but he’s wasting it: Danish Kaneria

Kaneria suggested Pant should be rested from playing international cricket and mentioned the alternatives India has at their disposal for his replacement.

“India have got a nice team combination with better understanding between players. Karthik and Hardik have been performing consistently but Ruturaj and Ishan haven’t been able to do it.

“Also, Pant needs to improve his batting. India have also got KS Bharat. I also don’t see any problem in bringing in Wriddhiman Saha. Just give a break to Rishabh Pant.

“Saha was excellent for Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Also, Karthik can keep the wickets. We saw that during his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore,”  Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.

“Pant can be rested to bring in a player who can bat well in the middle order. Rohit, Virat, Suryakumar, and Rahul will return to the team soon… and Pant’s place will under major threat. Pant is an immense talent but he’s wasting it. The selection committee and management need to talk with Pant if they want to move on. That’s a possibility after the ongoing series,” he further said. 

India will play South Africa in the final T20I game of the series on Sunday (June 19) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Wasim Jaffer Believes Rishabh Pant Will Struggle To Find A Place In The T20I XI