Former Indian legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar believes Rishabh Pant’s selection will depend on India’s playing combination in the high-voltage match against Pakistan. Gavaskar believes Pant will play if Hardik Pandya is the fifth bowler and he might not play if the all-rounder is the sixth bowler in the playing XI.
The former Indian skipper also feels the Rohit Sharma-led team will want a left-hander in their batting order however India’s top four batters are in good form in recent times, which is a big boost for the team.
Meanwhile, Pant has an immaculate record in the Australian conditions, especially while playing in the red-ball version of the game. However, the southpaw hasn’t been consistent in the T20I format due to which he hasn’t been able to cement his place in the team.
On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik is expected to play in the starting XI as the veteran batter has been adding the finishing touches.
“It’s just that maybe, if they decide to go with six bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being the sixth bowler, then he (Pant) may not be able to find a place, but if they decide to go with Hardik Pandya as a fifth bowler, then Rishabh Pant has an opportunity to bat at number six and Karthik maybe at number seven, followed by the four bowlers. So, that could well happen, we just have to wait and see,” Gavaskar said on ‘Cricket Live’ a popular show on Star Sports.
“They would certainly want a left-hander in the middle, but looking at the top four, who are in such good form, you sometimes say to yourself, ‘How many overs Rishabh Pant is going to get in? Is he going to get three or four overs? And for three or four overs, is Karthik or Rishabh better?’ So, these are all the situations they will look at and they’ll take a call on this,” explained the genius from Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Pakistan gun fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi played in the warm-up matches against England and Afghanistan. Afridi bowled only two overs against England and scalped two wickets in the four overs he bowled against Afghanistan.
“I think that’s what their main concern was, about his fitness and how he will shape up. And certainly, in the two overs that he bowled, he’s shown that he’s back to full fitness. So, clearly, that is one headache gone.”
India and Pakistan will be up against one another on Sunday at the iconic MCG.
