India should play Rishabh Pant over Dinesh Karthik - Scott Styris

Rishabh Pant (PC: Twitter)

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the Asia Cup 2022 with a knee injury. In the wake of the event, former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris has said that Jadeja’s injury will force India to add Rishabh Pant to the playing XI.

Jadeja, who played a significant role in India's win over Pakistan and Hong Kong has been replaced by Axar Patel in the squad. Pant, who was dropped in place of Dinesh Karthik in the game against Pakistan, made a return to the XI for the game against Hong Kong after Hardik Pandya was rested. Both Karthik and Pant were in the XI against Hong Kong.

Jadeja injury an opportunity for Rishabh Pant

"I think you have to make a change now, I think Rishabh Pant has to come in for Dinesh Karthik.

"Karthik has done nothing wrong, the form that he has displayed over the last 6-9 months has been outstanding but you can't go in with a top 6 with only right-handers, I don't think it works, opposition teams look to exploit that, especially with the ball turning away. Rishabh Pant, just with his ability to take on left-arm spinners and leg-spinners, I think he now has to come into the side as a forced change, because Jadeja was so important to this Indian team."

Karthik was chosen ahead of Pant against Pakistan probably because of his impressive performances since his return to international cricket recently. Karthik made a comeback to T20 internationals after a successful IPL 2022, where he scored 380 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore at a strike rate of over 180.

Pant, who recently impressed in the T20I series against West Indies, has 883 runs in 55 T20Is at an average and strike rate of 23.86 and 126.32. 

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