Amid the Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Kartik debate, Team India is currently in dilemma about whom to take in the playing XI. Karthik was preferred over Rishabh Pant in the first T20I against Australia, while Pant had been chosen over Karthik for the super 4s matches in the Asia Cup 2022.
Former Aussie cricketer and one of the pioneers of his generation, Adam Gilchrist weighed in on the hot topic and suggested that the Men in Blue should include Rishabh Pant because of his aggressive approach and courage at the crease.
“The dare of Rishabh Pant and the courage for him, the way in which he takes on bowling attacks. I think he’s got to be a must in that Indian line-up. They can play together, but I think Rishabh Pant has definitely got to be in there,” Gilchrist told ICC.
He stated that both Pant and Dinesh Karthik can be accommodated in the team at the same time, given that Hardik Pandya is back in peak bowling form and with Akshar Patel or Deepak Hooda playing as spin all-rounders.
“It will be interesting to see if they can both play in the same team. I think they can. What they bring to a team…the versatility of Dinesh Karthik, he can play at the top of the order, he can, as he has done more so later in his career, be in the middle and late overs to finish. He has a really nice touch game,” added Gilchrist.
India and Australia are all set to play their second T20I on Friday in Nagpur and it is to be seen whether Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid would give a chance to Pant in the middle order or not.
