Former batsman-turned-commentator, Aakash Chopra, gave his views in the ongoing debate around who should be India's first-choice wicketkeeper batsman in Test match cricket.
Keeping in mind in the ongoing tour of Australia where Wriddhiman Saha got the nod ahead of Rishabh Pant for the first Test in Adelaide, Chopra said a wrong impression has been created that Saha can't bat and Pant can't keep wickets to an acceptable level.
Adding that such an "atmosphere" is unfair on both the cricketers, Chopra stressed he won't mind if the team management decides to retain Saha or even opt for Pant.
"This is one change that can probably happen. I am not advocating that but just starting a conversation. Since, Virat Kohli is leaving, you will play Shubman Gill or KL Rahul instead of him. So, your batting has already become weaker," Chopra said while replying to a fan question in a video uploaded on his Facebook page.
“Your openers are already not firing. So, when you see this combination, you can go towards Pant. But even if you play Saha, I am not going to criticise you even once."
"If you want to play a better keeper at No.7, that is Saha. It is not the case that Saha cannot bat, and it is not that Pant can’t keep wickets."
Chopra added, "till now, the atmosphere has been created that Pant is a bad keeper. How is that the case, as he takes very good catches, and last time on the Australian tour, he had taken the maximum catches; and Saha cannot bat; how can he not as he has a Test century."
"If you have in mind that you should play a left-hander, there is no other left-hander in the lineup, and there is no game-changer. I am okay with it, but I am not going to criticise if you play Saha," he signed off.
