Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar backed Rishabh Pant as an automatic choice for Team India over KL Rahul,  if he is fit for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.

Pant suffered multiple injuries in a serious car crash in December 2022, but the wicketkeeper-batter is likely to return to action with the IPL in 2024.

Well, Gavaskar backed Pant to play as a wicketkeeper-batter at the T20 World Cup 2024, but if he is not fit, then KL Rahul would be an ideal option for the Men in Blue.

Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports’ show Game Plan: “I see him (Rahul) as a wicketkeeper as well but I will say one thing before that - if Rishabh Pant is fit on even one leg, he should come in the team because he is a game-changer in every format. If I am the selector, I will put his name first.”

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The former Indian skipper added, “However, if Rishabh Pant is unavailable and KL Rahul keeps wickets, it will be good because the balance will also get created. Then you have the option to play him as an opener or use him in the middle order as a finisher at No. 5 or No. 6.”

Gavaskar admitted that Rahul has improved a lot as a wicketkeeper, but still, there is a race between him, Pant, and Jitesh Sharma in the gloveman’s role for the T20 World Cup 2024.

He signed off by saying, “Competition between players is good. All three players are good. We have seen Jitesh Sharma. He is an impressive striker and finisher. In T20 cricket, wicketkeepers usually stay back and are rarely close to the stumps. So even if you don't have that much wicketkeeping prowess but have batting and form, you can come in the team.”

(With Star Sports/PTI Inputs)