Aakash Chopra Feels Question Mark Will Be Raised Over Rishabh Pant’s Place In T20I XI

Jun 21, 2022 at 2:23 PM

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Aakash Chopra Feels Question Mark Will Be Raised Over Rishabh Pant’s Place In T20I XI

Aakash Chopra feels question marks will be raised over Rishabh Pant’s place in India’s T20I side after his underwhelming performances against South Africa.

Rishabh Pant managed just 58 runs in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against the Proteas at a poor strike of 105.45. The stand-in Indian skipper repeatedly threw away his wicket while trying to play attacking shots against deliveries wide outside the off stump.

Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant (Credits: Twitter)

Aakash Chopra: There Was No Need For Rishabh Pant To Give An Audition As Rishabh Pant An Integral Part Of India’s Schemes

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked players who were a slight let-down in the T20I series against the Proteas. He named Rishabh Pant alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad and Axar Patel.

He chose Rishabh Pant behind Ruturaj Gaikwad and Axar Patel, saying: “The third I feel is Rishabh Pant. He was the captain in the series and when someone is the captain, you feel that he is secure. A lot of people, including myself, were of the opinion that there was no need for him to give an audition because he is one of the first names you would want to put when you prepare the squad.”

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The former opener pointed out that the swashbuckling southpaw was almost considered an indispensable member of the Indian side before the series.

Aakash Chopra explained: “He is our X-factor. You get only one left-hander in the entire batting order, the rest all are right-handers. You never know whether Ishan Kishan will get a chance or not and Jaddu comes in the end, so Rishabh Pant is very very important and integral to India’s scheme of things.”

Rahul Dravid stated in the post-series press conference that Rishabh Pant is an integral member of India’s T20I side. He also reasoned that the dashing wicketkeeper-batter gives the Indian side a much-needed left-handed option in the middle order and can make match-defining contributions.

The Team India keeper-batter has scored 741 runs in 48 T20I matches at an average of 23.15 and a strike rate of 123.91. Rishabh Pant has managed just 58 runs in the series against South Africa at a mediocre average of 14.5 and an equally poor strike rate of 105.45. Rishabh Pant has struggled with the bat in the T20I series against South Africa, having registered scores of 29, 5, 6, 17, and 1*.

Aakash Chopra Reckons India Has Plethora Of Keepers To Replace Rishabh Pant If He Continues To Perform Poorly

Aakash Chopra highlighted the plethora of wicketkeeper-batter options Team India has if Rishabh Pant continues to underperform with the bat.

With as many as four wicketkeeper-batters in contention in Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Dinesh Karthik, it will be interesting to see how many get the nod. KL Rahul who was injured just before the ongoing South Africa series is another option for the keeper’s slot and will certainly make the 2022 T20I World Cup squad if fit.

He elaborated: “But if the performance remains ordinary and a pattern develops that you get out towards the off-stump repeatedly, there will be a question and there is no doubt in that, especially when Ishan Kishan is doing well at the top, KL Rahul can keep and Dinesh Karthik is performing well down the order.”

Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik (Credits: Twitter)

The renowned cricketer-turned commentator concluded by observing that there cannot be too many complaints if Rishabh Pant is left out of the Indian side. The aggressive batter had a poor IPL 2022 campaign as well. Leading the Delhi Capitals (DC), he scored 340 runs in 14 matches with a best of 44.

Aakash Chopra stated: “There will not be a lot of hues and cries if someone decides to leave out Rishabh Pant, and if such hues and cries are not generated, it means there is a problem. I feel he has also gone slightly back.”

Rishabh Pant is not part of the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland as he is with the Test side for the final game against England. The Delhi Capitals skipper will have to be at his best in the subsequent 3 ODIs and as many T20Is against hosts England to put at bay all questions about his place in India’s squad for the 2022 T20I World Cup later this year.

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