Rishabh Pant Set To Be Snubbed From India's T20 World Cup Squad, Feels Zaheer Khan

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan reckons Rishabh Pant won’t make it into India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup this year. Khan feels even if he has a good run in the IPL 2024 he will remain out of India’s scheme of things for this year’s T20 World Cup. Rishabh Pant last played an international match in 2022 against Bangladesh which was a Test match.

Rishabh Pant has been out of cricketing action since suffering serious injuries in a horrendous car accident in December 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter is expected to make his comeback in competitive cricket and play for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. However, chances are that he won’t be able to don the wicketkeeping gloves. He has been very active in his rehabilitation and was also on the chairs with the franchise during the IPL Auctions.

During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Zaheer was asked if Pant has a chance to make India’s T20 World Cup side if he has a good IPL. He responded, “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.”

The former left-arm pacer added, “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.”

Rishabh Pant Is Likely To Return To The Indian Team After The T20 World Cup

Zaheer Khan highlighted that the planning for marquee events like the ICC T20 World Cup is done well in advance. India should already have a game plan ready for the T20 World Cup and it is unlikely that Rishabh Pant would be included in any of those given he has been out of cricketing action since the start of the last year. India has tried wicketkeepers like Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and KL Rahul to fill the void of Rishabh Pant.

Team India has a lot of options to play in place of Rishabh Pant in the ICC T20 World Cup. Rishabh Pant’s record in T20Is has not been very impressive, to say the least. He has played some of his best cricket in the red-ball format and has not been able to prove his mettle for India in the shortest format. Rishabh Pant has represented India in two T20 World Cups (2021 and 2022). However, his injury in 2022 after his car accident has put a huge crack in his career which will take some time to heal.

Hopefully, Rishabh Pant will return to international cricket after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The T20 World Cup will commence on June 1 after the conclusion of IPL 2024 where Rishabh Pant will represent Delhi Capitals and hopefully play the full season. He is likely to play as an impact player to ensure maximum rest for his injuries which still require some healing.