ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Dinesh Karthik Can Be A Part Of The Team But Coming In The XI, I Am Not 100% Certain – Aakash Chopra

The 44-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes that the 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik can be a part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 squad of the India National Cricket Team. However, he is doubtful of the batter’s place in the playing XI.

Karthik got his India recall after a stellar campaign with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 and so far he has done a good job for the Men In Blue. He has also been named in India’s Asia Cup 2022 squad.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra discussed about India’s middle-order batters and talked about Karthik’s case for the World Cup. He said:

“Dinesh Karthik is an interesting one, neither does he wish to bat up the order nor does anyone get him to do that. Everyone has decided that he is a finisher. You feel he is doing good, but a specialist finisher at No. 6 or No. 7, questions will be asked. He can be a part of the team but coming in the XI, I am not 100% certain.

“He has played 15 matches since the last World Cup, scored 192 runs at an average of 21 but has a strike rate of 133. He has not done badly, it is extremely difficult to be extraordinary at that number. He had a good IPL – scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 183 and an average of 55 in 16 matches.”

The thing in his favour is that he is the only left-hander – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant

In the same video, Chopra spoke about the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and said that he is a destructive batter and provides India with a left-handed option in the middle order. Aakash Chopra also talked about Pant’s World Cup chances. He elaborated:

“Rishabh Pant is an enigma, he is a different player, he is destructive Pant. He has played 16 matches since the World Cup in which he has scored 293 runs, not that great, at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 133. I will go slightly underwhelming.

“The IPL numbers were not bad – 340 runs in 14 matches at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 152. The thing in his favor is that he is the only left-hander. So Rishabh Pant will reach there but whether he will play or not, I think it is going to be a toss-up, I really don’t know.”

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2022: He Is Not Fully Out Of The Race: Aakash Chopra On Shreyas Iyer’s Position In India’s Middle Order

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