Virat Kohli Ravindra Jadeja ignored as India's fielding coach T Dilip picks the best athlete

Team India fielding coach T Dilip praised Rishabh Pant for his impressive performance since returning to international cricket after a severe road accident in December 2022. T Dilip highlighted that Rishabh Pant showcased exceptional wicketkeeping skills and acrobatics, especially after his major knee surgery.

Rishabh Pant made his comeback to competitive cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite concerns about his fitness. However, the left-handed batter displayed strong batting and impressive wicketkeeping skills. Rishabh earned a call-up from the national team for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The 26-year-old cricketer was promoted to No. 3 in the batting order in the testing conditions of Nassau County Stadium in New York. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 96 runs in three matches at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 124.67. He is the leading run-getter for the Men in Blue in this tournament.

Rishabh Pant Has Done Well In His Comeback - T Dilip

Speaking in a pre-match press conference, T Dilip stated that Rishabh Pant has done well in his comeback. The fielding coach said that his return to form as a wicketkeeper after a serious injury has been particularly remarkable.

"The best thing is that Rishabh has done so well in his comeback. Especially the batting is considered to be very good. But one of the good things about him is the way he came back as a wicketkeeper. Especially with an injury he had, to come back as a wicketkeeper and do that lateral movement, so that is very heartening to see," Dilip said.

India will face Canada in their final group-stage match of the tournament in Florida on Saturday. The Rohit Sharma-led team has already secured a spot in the Super Eights with three consecutive wins. Canada cannot advance to the next stage but will hope to end their tournament on a positive note with a victory.

The Weather Is Challenging Here - T Dilip

Dilip said that the team has prior experience playing at the venue in Lauderhill, Florida. He acknowledged the challenging weather but stated that they had prepared for such uncertainties. He also mentioned that they cannot control the weather but are doing their best to handle the situation.

"Yes, the weather is challenging here, you do not know about when the rain comes and all, but we have been prepared for all these things. So, we are focusing on what we can control and at this point in time, we cannot control the weather conditions. So, we are trying to prepare ourselves in the best possible way but we want a game to happen," Dilip added.

The match between the United States of America (USA) and Ireland at the same venue on Friday was abandoned due to a wet outfield. The rain could play spoilsport in India's upcoming match. The Rohit Sharma-led team will head to the Caribbean islands after the match against Canada for the Super 8 stages.

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