Former South African pacer Dale Steyn has backed Dinesh Karthik to be picked in the Team India's squad ahead of the struggling Rishabh Pant for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
His comments came after Karthik smashed the maiden fifty of his T20I career in the fourth T20I match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa in Rajkot on Friday (June 17). The veteran wicketkeeper-batter played a brilliant knock of 55 runs off 27 balls laced with 9 fours and 2 sixes, as well as added 65 runs with Hardik Padya (46) to help India post 169/6 in 20 overs against South Africa.
Later, the hosts defeated South Africa by 82 runs in the fourth match to level the T20I series 2-2 on Friday. Meanwhile, Pant’s struggle with the bat continued, as he was dismissed for 17 runs off 23 balls in the last match, taking his tally to 57 runs so far in the T20I series, which is not really impressive at all.
When asked on ESPNCricinfo if Karthik is now a step ahead of Pant for selection for the T20 World Cup 2022, Dale Steyn said: “Yes definitely. Pant has had four opportunities now in this series and he seems to be making the same mistake. Also you could say that good players learn from their mistakes...but he hasn't. And DK has come up just every single time and shown what a class player he is.”
He further explained, “I think if you want to win World Cups, you pick a guy who is in form that guy is going to win you the World Cup. If he is in a purple patch and is red hot, you pick that guy. Teams will pick on reputation but DK is in such fantastic form, and if he continues he will be one of the first names written down on the plane when India tour for the World Cup.”
Steyn signed off by saying, “DK has been in phenomenal form, looks like he is getting better and better. He has that great wicket-keeping mentality, reads the game very well. He knows and understands what bowlers are going to do and he backs it up really well with good skill.”
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
