IND vs SA: “I Would Put Rishabh Pant Ahead Of Sanju Samson And Ishan Kishan": Saba Karim Feels Rishabh Pant Provides An X-Factor Which Others Don't
Published - 08 Oct 2022, 12:36 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:14 AM
Former Indian cricketer and top selector Saba Karim believes that Rishabh Pant possesses the X factor that Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan do not. In contrast to Kishan and Samson, who is included in the ODI squad for the current three-match series against South Africa, the selectors have chosen Pant for the T20 World Cup team.
Team India has struggled to identify a suitable replacement for Mahendra Singh Dhoni after his departure because other glovemen have had the opportunity to demonstrate their talent recently. Pant’s place in the Test team is now certain, but his inconsistent play has always cast doubt on where he belongs in the white-ball system.
Dinesh Karthik, who will likely be the starting wicketkeeper for the T20 WC, is travelling to Australia along with Pant. Samson and Kishan also made several attempts to gain a position in the T20 WC team, but they were passed over in the hierarchy.
Rishabh Pant Would Be My First Choice In All Formats: Saba Karim
Karim stated that he would choose Pant above the other two glove guys because he provided an extra element that Samson and Kishan do not.
“I would put Rishabh Pant ahead of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. I don’t see the X factor in these two that Rishabh Pant has. Samson is a wonderful stroke player and can retain his side in the team as a batter.
Ishan Kishan hasn’t made the most of his chances, which is why he has fallen down the pecking order. With that said, Pant would be my first choice in both white-ball and red-ball cricket,” Karim told India News.
Sanju Samson’s Return To The Main Team Depends On His Batting: Saba Karim
Samson and Kishan are only being considered as pure hitters, according to Karim, who also claimed that Samson can make the team as a batter rather than a wicketkeeper.
“Selectors aren’t looking at all these players as keeper-batters. They consider them pure batters and it is an added bonus if you are also able to keep wickets. Sanju Samson’s return to the main team will happen as a batter, not as a wicketkeeper,” he added.
The former wicket keeper also praised Samson and said that, following the IPL this year, he had constantly delivered for the Indian squad.
“Sanju Samson has performed well whenever he has had an opportunity recently. The consistency has been quite good and we have seen a big improvement after this year’s IPL,” Karim said.
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IND vs SA 2022 India National Cricket Team Ishan Kishan Rishabh Pant Saba Karim Sanju Samson South Africa tour of India 2022
