HomeICC Cricket World CupIndiaRicky Ponting surprised with Pant's exclusion from India 11 in World Cup

Ricky Ponting surprised with Pant’s exclusion from India 11 in World Cup

Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant

Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant: Dinesh Karthik’s poor performance in each of the four games has drawn a lot of criticism from cricket experts who have questioned his selection over Rishabh Pant, despite India’s staunch attitude and sustained support for him as their first choice as a wicket keeper.

The 2-time ODI World Cup winning skipper Ricky Ponting has now joined the list of experts and he believes that Pant might have a bigger part to play in the latter stages of India’s campaign.

Let’s look at the details of Ricky Ponting on Rishabh Pant.

As per media reports, Ponting has said that he is really surprised that Pant is not playing.

“I am really surprised that he is not playing. One, he is a match winner, two, he is a left-hander, which they might need in different times through the middle order.

I was reading through some of the quotes of Axar Patel that they are backing his batting. If they need a left-hander in the middle to go up and play that sort of role. Two spinners means it is hard for Rishabh to get in and play that role. India are a bit like Australia coming in. They never really knew what their best team was, probably because they never knew what kind of conditions they would get here,” he added.

Dinesh Karthik over Rishabh Pant

Dinesh Karthik, the most experienced player on Team India in terms of career tenure, has given the oppourtunity to play in the final eleven of team India in all of India’s fixtures in the T20 World Cup so far.

Karthik just rejoined the Indian team and was given the opportunity to represent India in the T20 World Cup.

The veteran, who replaced Pant in the lineup, has had a difficult tournament thus far with the bat. On Sunday, October 23rd, in a crucial game against Pakistan. He failed to score final 2 runs for the side and was out. But Ashwin did it for India, and the team in blue triumphed in that game.

While the second time he got the chance to bat he only managed to score 6 runs off 15 balls at a crucial time. India were struggling in the game with 49 for 5. And he was unable to rescue the side. Although he was there in a 52-run stand alongside Suryakumar. But his contribution was only 6 in that partnership.

During South Africa’s batting, Karthik was seen writhing in pain at the end of 15th over. He then left the field while holding his back.

Whether Karthik to play on November 2 or not was in doubt after leaving the field during India’s match against South Africa last Sunday owing to a back injury.

There were speculations that Pant will be seen in a crucial game against Bangladesh due to Karthik’s injury. But, Karthik regained fitness on time and again included in the final eleven.

India will next play against Zimbabwe on Sunday to confirm their for the semis.

Vineet Vashisht
Vineet Vashisht
Experienced News-writer and presenter with a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry.

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