Dinesh Karthik has not made any impact with the bat despite getting regular opportunities at the expense of the talented Rishabh Pant in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has so far managed 1 and 6 in his two outings in the tournament.
Following his failure with the bat, many have been questioning Karthik’s selection over Pant in Team India’s XI, especially after the team’s five-wicket loss to South Africa in their Super 12 match at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Perth on Sunday (October 30).
Now, the former Indian opener Virender Sehwag joined the debate and said that Pant should have gotten the nod ahead of Karthik, which he will eventually get after the veteran keeper got injured on Sunday.
During the post-match show on Cricbuzz, Sehwag said: “Ye toh pehle din se hona chahiye tha. Vo vahan Test cricket khele hain, ODI khele hain aur perform kiya hai. Dinesh Karthik kab Australia me khele hain? Ye koi Bangalore ki wicket nahi hai. Main aaj bhi ye hi keh raha tha ki Hooda ki jagah Pant ko khilaate, unko vahan khelne ka anubhav hai. Unhone Gabba ka ghamand toda hai Australia ka.
(This should have been the case from the first day. Pant has played Tests and ODIs there, and has performed. When did Dinesh Karthik last play in Australia? This isn't a Bangalore wicket. I said this even today that Pant should've been in the team instead of Hooda, Pant has the experience of playing here. His Gabba innings is a legend).”
He added, “Main yahan bas rai de sakta hu, baaki management jisko bhi khilaaye. Agle match me problem unki hai, agar Karthik fit hote hain toh same scenario pe jaayenge. Meri nazar me Rishabh Pant pehle bhi hone chahiye the. (I can only give them suggestion, it's the management's decision. If Karthik is fit, they will go back to him again. But according to me, Rishabh Pant should've been in the XI from the start).”
India will play Bangladesh in Adelaide on November 2nd next.
