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Aakash Chopra has picked Rishabh Pant’s underwhelming performances as the biggest concern for Team India heading into the final T20I against South Africa.

Rishabh Pant has managed just 57 runs at a mediocre average of 14.25 and an equally poor strike rate of 105.55 in the four games thus far. The stand-in Indian skipper will be hoping to make a telling contribution in the series decider to be played in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 19. Rishabh Pant has struggled with the bat in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa so far, having registered scores of 29, 5, 6, and 17.

Rishabh Pant has endured a dismal run in the T20I series against South Africa thus far [P/C: BCCI]

Aakash Chopra: Rishabh Pant’s Form A Concern Heading Into Series Deciding 5th T20I

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked the lack of runs from Rishabh Pant’s willow as the main problem for Team India heading into Sunday’s game.

He elaborated: “There is one problem, that is about Rishabh Pant. What about Pant’s form because the Indian team has plenty of wicketkeeping options now. Ishan Kishan is doing well up the order although he might also not have a place in the XI when Rahul comes back.”

The cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Team India has a plethora of wicketkeeper-batter options at the moment. 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 for the upcoming 2022 T20I World Cup.

KL Rahul who was injured before the ongoing South Africa series is another option for the keeper’s slot and will certainly make the World Cup squad if fit.

Aakash Chopra explained: “Rahul himself is a keeper, he gives you a lot of versatility. The gun form Dinesh Karthik is in, he is also a keeper, but he is playing as a batter. Rishabh Pant, who is the captain of the team at the moment, he is the keeper, so you have got four choices.”

Rishabh Pant will certainly be under the scanner in the final T20I against South Africa. While the swashbuckling cricketer gives Team India a much-needed left-handed option in the middle order, he will have to be more consistent to seal a place in the 2022 T20I World Cup squad.

Aakash Chopra: Rishabh Pant Is Getting Stuck As proteas Continuously Bowling Outside Off Stump

Aakash Chopra was particularly peeved about Rishabh Pant getting dismissed repeatedly in almost identical fashions. In all his four dismissals, Rishabh Pant was dismissed while trying to play a big hit on deliveries outside off stump. He was caught in the offside region near the boundary most times in an attempt to clear the fence.

He observed: “India’s best batters being seen in T20s at the moment are all keepers. It’s an interesting position to be in. More than Rishabh Pant’s form, he is not able to give an answer to the game plan against him, that’s the big question because they are continuously bowling outside off stump and he is getting stuck.”

The 44-year-old concluded by warning Rishabh Pant about the fickle nature of Indian cricket.

Aakash Chopra elaborated: “He is the captain of the team at the moment but who knows, Indian cricket changes every week. A Friday-released picture is removed from the cinema hall next week if it doesn’t do well, this is Indian cricket boss. Rishabh Pant will have to get back on the saddle because he will not play in Ireland after this, he needs the form.”

Aakash Chopra also named Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer as two other batters who need to make sizeable contributions. While observing that the former is likely to get more opportunities in Ireland, the former Indian batter pointed out that it might be the last chance for Shreyas Iyer, considering that he is not part of the Indian team for Ireland’s two-match T20I series.

Indian selectors announced a 17-member squad for the 2-match T20I series against Ireland. Sanju Samson also returns to the squad after being ignored for the ongoing series against South Africa. Rishabh Pant has been left out of the squad as he is going to be part of the Test squad in England.