Gautam Gambhir also backed Mohammad Shami as the first-choice pacer for India.
There has been a debate among the cricket fraternity over who is the best option between Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant to be picked in Team India's playing XI at the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Well, many believe that Karthik would be a better option than Pant given his form and his new role as finisher, as India’s top four batters are already in great form, so how many overs the left-hander gets to play is uncertain in the T20 World Cup 2022, while many back the young keeper.
Giving his opinion on the same debate, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has backed Pant over Karthik to feature in India’s XI at the T20 World Cup 2022. The former opener further explained that Karthik didn’t show that intent except as a finisher, whereas Pant has more versatility as a batter, so the latter would be a much better option than the veteran keeper for the Men in Blue in Australia.
Speaking on Zee’s show, Gambhir said: “In my playing XI, Rishabh Pant should play at No.5, Hardik Pandya at no.6, and Axar Patel at no.7. But what we have seen in the practice matches, Dinesh Karthik will play. But a player is not picked to play just 10 balls. You should pick a player so that he can bat at No.5 or 6. But Dinesh Karthik has not shown that intention.”
The two-time World Cup winner continued, “He and the team management have show the intention that he will bat only in the last 2-3 overs and that can be dangerous because in Australia, if you lose early wickets, you might have to send in Axar Patel early because you also wouldn't want to expose Hardik early. That is why I picked Pant in my playing XI. But again that won't happen.”
Gambhir further suggested the Indian cricket team to pick Mohammad Shami as the first-choice pacer before deciding between Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel.
He signed off by saying, “You will have to play with three pacers. Mohammed Shami should be picked first, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel. Hardik Pandya will be the fourth seamer and the sixth bowling option. The quality Shami has...we know he is very effective with the new ball, but with the old ball, which we all saw in the match against Australia. So Shami first. One between Bhuvneshwar and Arshdeep should be picked. Harshal should be picked because he does have some experience bowling in the death.”