ICC T20 World Cup 2022: "Dinesh Karthik Came In 2014…": Ajay Jadeja Gives Advice To Rishabh Pant Ahead of T20 World Cup, Warns ‘Team Will Leave You’

Rishabh Pant missed a golden opportunity in the 3rd T20I match against South Africa. The likes of KL Rahul & Virat Kohli were rested for that match where Pant should have batted more responsibly. The batter managed to score 27 runs in 14 balls where a knock of around 70 runs could have given Selectors head-aches.

The left-handed batter has got into some deep trouble; he hasn’t got a significant score under his belt to challenge Dinesh Karthik. With the rise of Karthik as finisher;  the dashing left handed batter most likely will have to wait for his turn in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

Ajay Jadeja on Rishabh Pant

Ajay Jadeja was seen speaking in Cricbuzz and was asked about Rishabh Pant and his 3rd T20I match performance.

“Yes, he has missed it and I hope I mean he doesn’t have to go too far. He had to look to his batting partner today. It’s taken him 15 years for the team to start believing and you know accepting. DK (Karthik), who had similar talent over the last 15 years,” said Ajay Jadeja.

“DK came in 2014 and you know the team persisted with him, kept bringing back every time because you believe in some talent. But if you don’t deliver then eventually that team leaves you out somewhere. So he’ll have to and he doesn’t have to go far.”  he added.

“He’s got a mate in that team, to learn from him and say, ”Listen, you know what I need to do if there is something that I’m missing out on.

“You’ve gone through this, show me the way”, because no matter how big a fan I am, how long will you persist with him. There is no one else who can help him out there because of talent like I said earlier. You just mentioned I mean there’s no dearth of talent there and it’s just this format,” said former Indian cricketer.

“So it’s something, that he has to figure that out and a very good person to talk to would be DK, because he has probably been through a similar situation where teams, captains, coaches always brought him back every couple of years. believing in him.

“But it’s never happened for him and it’s taken him so long to now get to the stage where the team or you know most of the world had given up on him. But he didn’t give up and he’s come back. So better if he learns now rather than when you know he gets to the age of DK,” he concluded.

Conundrum for Management

The management would be aware of Pant’s hitting ability. Head Coach Rahul Dravid had said that the team makes selections depending on the conditions. Having a batter who can up the ante is invaluable as we all know that Pant can easily clear the boundaries in Australia.

Skipper Rohit Sharma will have to be spot on with captaincy as playing musical chairs prove too expensive in a marquee event. It would be interesting to see what kind of tactics the team applies. The duo Rohit & Dravid would be aware that any sort of reasons won’t be entertained by a billion people.

Also Read: IND vs SA: ‘Not Fitted Into Any Role’: Ajay Jadeja Reveals The Reason Behind Rishabh Pant’s Inability To Deliver In T20Is