In the cricket fraternity, there has been growing debate about who should play as Team India's designated wicketkeeper, Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant.

Given the pristine form he has been in, many have backed Karthik to succeed, while others believe that the young southpaw should be given preference because he has experience of playing in Australian conditions.

The latest to voice his opinion on the subject is the former Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting. According to him, both Pant and Karthik should be included in Team India’s playing XI in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. 

“The debate in the Indian cricketing circles has long been raging on who should be the designated wicketkeeper-batter in the side. While Karthik can boast about being an excellent finisher, Pant’s prodigious talent has seen him being backed by many," Ponting wrote in his column.

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India has played both the players in the same match on a few occasions, and Ponting thinks that's how the Men in Blue should go forward.

“I actually think that India’s best team has both of these players. I don’t care if they are both keepers but I think their batting prowess is enough." Ponting said in praise of both the players.

“Rishabh in the middle order and Dinesh as a finisher, they look extremely dangerous to me," he added.

However, the iconic batter believes that if one among the two is to be picked, the southpaw would win over the veteran right-hander.

“Look, I’m just going to favor Rishabh because I think he might get slightly more opportunities than Dinesh does," he remarked.

In the 1st T20I against Australia in the ongoing 3-match series, the 37-year-old was picked ahead of Pant. 

It remains to be seen whether the young batter will be picked in the 2nd T20I on Friday (September 23).

(PTI INPUTS)