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'Even If He Has A Very Good IPL...,' - Zaheer On Why Pant Shouldn't Play T20 World Cup 2024

image-lrlrrd2pRishabh Pant with Rohit Sharma [X.com]

Zaheer Khan contradicted batting legend Sunil Gavaskar's suggestion for Team India to pick wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant "even if he is on one leg" for the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean & USA. 

The former pacer believes it will be too early in Pant's post-accident playing career to bat and don the gloves at a major ICC event, having just entered the last leg of his prolonged recovery from a life-threatening car crash in December 2022. 

Even though the explosive left-hander looks set to make a comeback to playing duties with Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024 after a 15-month absence and will be claiming a spot at the biannual tournament in June, Zaheer underlined why it will be tough for Pant to immediately find his mojo at the international stage.


Zaheer On Why Pant Shouldn't Play T20 World Cup 

"If you see Rishabh Pant’s journey, the turn he has gone through is not easy for any player. Firstly, everyone who is attached to cricket will be happy once he comes back on the field. He has a lot of hurdles to cross," Zaheer said on 'Colors Cineplex'.

"Firstly, he has to come back and play. It’s not easy at this level. You need to get used to it and get the rhythm back. Those things might take time. It’s great if it doesn’t. However, keeping all things in mind, even if he has a very good IPL, I don’t think the team will be thinking in that direction."

While Zaheer's point carries weight, the Indian team management might still be keen to see how Pant shapes up throughout the IPL 2024 for the Capitals. 

If he finds his best mojo, the aggressive cricketer holds an unparalleled impact with the bat and is a terrific gloveman, which will be critical on tricky surfaces in the West Indies and the USA.