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"I see no place": Ex-BCCI selector hints at Rishabh Pant’s snub from India XI in SA ODIs

Poulomi Chakraborty

Saba Karim speaks on Pant's place in playing XI (Source: AFP)Saba Karim speaks on Pant's place in playing XI (Source: AFP)

After a humiliating defeat in the recently concluded Test series, Team India is eyeing a return to form in the upcoming ODI series, starting on Sunday. After a while, Rishhabh Pant made his way to India's ODI setup.

As KL Rahul is set to lead India in Shubman Gill's absence, Pant's place in the playing XI is yet to be confirmed. Ahead of the first ODI, former Indian star Saba Karim predicted that Pant might not find a place in the playing XI.

Saba Karim sees Rahul as India’s keeper

After a whitewash in the two-match Test series, Team India is set to face South Africa in a three-match ODI series. As Shubman Gill was ruled out of the series, Rishabh Pant secured his place in Team India's ODI setup after a while. But as KL Rahul is set to lead the team, Pant's place in the playing XI is still in doubt.

As KL Rahul steps up to lead and possibly take the gloves, Saba Karim has dropped a big hint that Rishabh Pant might be the one to miss out. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, he said that if Rahul dons the gloves, there is no place for Pant in the playing XI.

“I would love to see him in the XI, but I think the way the XI is going to be constructed, I see no place for Rishabh Pant at this stage. He comes in because Shubman Gill is not there in the side, and once you have decided to pick Tilak Varma in the XI, you see KL Rahul coming in as a wicketkeeper-batter. Then you have the all-rounders coming through,” he said.

Bringing Pant in might create bowling gaps

Another option to include Rishabh Pant in the mix is to strengthen the lower order. But that move may put the team at risk, as it will minimise the bowling options for the Men in Blue. While discussing Team India's perfect playing XI, Saba Karim highlighted this.

“So the other option is to play Rishabh Pant low down the order and play with only five specialist bowlers and get maybe Tilak Varma or Yashasvi Jaiswal to bowl two, three overs,” he added.

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer’s absence will be a big blow for the team, but Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's arrival will be an even stronger boost for the side. With the first ODI on November 30, KL Rahul's men will be desperate to start the series with a statement win.