While the 2022 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is still four months away, cricket fans and experts have already started picking their first-choice playing XI for different teams.
Recently, former opener Gautam Gambhir shared his thoughts on India’s team composition and opined that he wouldn’t have Dinesh Karthik in the squad.
See Also: No place for Kohli, Rahul as Gautam Gambhir names India’s top-three for T20 World Cup 2022
Notably, Karthik made his return to the Indian team in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa on the back of his IPL 2022 exploits. Playing for RCB, he amassed 330 runs from 16 innings at an incredible strike rate of 183.33. In particular, his brutal hitting in the death overs impressed one and all.
Karthik also carried his IPL form into international cricket, slamming 30 not out off 21 balls in the second T20I against South Africa at Cuttack on Sunday (June 12).
"It was very valuable (the knock), he has been doing that for the last 2-3 months for RCB. But, I was a bit amazed that Akshar came ahead of Dinesh Karthik. I would've been more happy if he had come ahead of Akshar," Gambhir said while speaking on Star sports.
When asked about Karthik's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad, Gambhir argued that the return of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja will make it tough for the veteran wicketkeeper to hold on to a spot.
"Too early to say. T20 World Cup is far ahead. He needs to consistently perform till then but if he wants to bat only in the last three overs, things could get tough. India will definitely be looking at someone in the top 7 who can bowl and if Akshar is batting at 7, the team would be a batter short.
"In such a case I would not have him (Karthik) in the World Cup Squad. I would definitely have people like Rishabh Pant, and Deepak Hooda (in the team). We have got KL Rahul, we've got Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma. Once they come back, it's going to be tough for Dinesh Karthik to find a place in the playing XI. If he doesn't have a place in the playing XI, there's no point giving him a place in the squad," Gambhir opined.
According to Gambhir, the only way Karthik can make it to the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 is if the selectors decide to drop one of the top four batters.
"Once KL, Rohit, Surya and Virat are back, I don't see him in the playing XI. This will be your top 4 and then you'll have someone like Hooda, Pant, Hardik, Jadeja. I will have a younger guy (in place of Karthik) who is a better fielder on those grounds and can probably chip in with a couple of overs as well.
"Karthik, unfortunately, will have to miss out unless and until the selectors make a huge call and drop one of the top four," he concluded.
