Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has expressed concern over Rishabh Pant's place in Team India’s T20I squad after his string of poor performances with the bat in the format.
Pant had a forgettable IPL 2022 campaign, but many were hoping to see him fire in the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, but things are the same, as the left-hander could manage just 40 runs in his three outings in the home series.
Well, Jaffer said that Pant must score runs to cement his place in India’s T20I team, as there are a number of options in KL Rahul and Dinesh Karthik who can replace him at the side.
He further mentioned that Pant failed to replicate his success in Test cricket to the T20 format, but if he wants to be part of the T20 World Cup 2022, the wicketkeeper-batter needs to score runs consistently.
Wasim Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo: “You've got KL Rahul. Once he comes back, he walks into the side. He's a wicketkeeper as well. If Dinesh Karthik is certain to play, then again, he is also a wicketkeeper. So, I am not too sure. The way Rishabh Pant has played recently; I won't call him a certainty.”
He added, “I think he still needs to score runs and score them pretty consistently. He hasn't done that in the IPL. He hasn't done it in many T20Is. I've said that many times - the way he has played in Test cricket, the way he has played in quite a few ODI innings as well, he hasn't done that in T20Is. So, I won't say that Rishabh Pant is a certainty for me (in T20Is) going forward.”
