Gavaskar questions India's selection, demands a chance for Rishabh Pant


image-la4smkj2Sunil Gavaskar (Source: Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the Men in Blue's selection logic in the T20 World Cup 2022. 

The former World Cup winner believes that India's decision to use Ravichandran Ashwin at number eight in order to add more depth to their batting department shows that they do not trust the top order to fire consistently. 

Gavaskar believes that it would make more sense to use a more specialist bowler in that position to give the team more options while defending a total. He has also urged India to give Rishabh Pant a chance to impress against Zimbabwe. Given the form of Dinesh Karthik in the tournament so far, Pant's inclusion certainly makes sense. 

It is evident that India's top order has not clicked in the tournament apart from Virat Kohli. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have failed to step up on a consistent basis. The likes of Hardik Pandya have not fired apart from the Pakistan game either.

India must ensure that they are firing on all cylinders if they are to win the World Cup this year. The Men in Blue have made it through to the semi finals of the competition and they are waiting to find out who they will face for a place in the final.

As quoted by Hindustan Times, Gavaskar said: 

“If you think that you need a No.8 in a 20-overs game then doesn't really show much confidence in your top 7. Yes I know the batting has not quiet...apart from Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya to an extent and KL Rahul in the previous game, it hasn't really clicked. But at No.8, if you are picking somebody because he can bat at that position that's not the way you should be looking at. And taking for granted, although you can't really in this format of the game, that India beat Zimbabwe, this again is an opportunity to try someone like a Rishabh Pant. Give him a chance and let him bat up the order, at No.5, and not worry about who is coming at 6 or 7. Let him bat after Suryakumar Yadav at No.5 and let him show what he is capable of and get some game time then you can think if can be picked for the semis.”


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