Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels it will be difficult for Dinesh Karthik to find a place in India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2022 squad. He added that he would have Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda in the team for the mega event.
Dinesh Karthik earned a comeback to India’s T20I squad owing to his finishing exploits in the Indian Premier League 2022 season. In the second T20I against South Africa, the veteran batter played a fine knock of 30 runs. He slammed two boundaries and two sixes during his knock.
Karthik’s performance has made a solid case for himself for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 tournament. Speaking to Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir expressed that Dinesh needs to perform consistently. However, the former cricketer does not feel Dinesh Karthik will find a place in the World Cup squad.
“It was very valuable (the knock), he has been doing that for the last 2-3 months for RCB. But, I was a bit amazed that Axar came ahead of Dinesh Karthik. I would’ve been more happy if he had come ahead of Axar,” Gambhir said.
Dinesh Karthik tonight:
First 16 balls – 9 runs.
Last 5 balls – 21 runs.
– DK The Finisher takes India to 148. pic.twitter.com/0L0af0sQJI
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 12, 2022
The former cricketer further explained that once the top four: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav return, Karthik will find it difficult to get into the playing XI. He said,
“Too early to say. T20 World Cup is far ahead. He needs to consistently perform till then. But if he wants to bat only in the last three overs, things could get tough. India will definitely be looking at someone in the top 7 who can bowl and if Axar is batting at 7, the team would be a batter short.”
“In such a case I would not have him (Karthik) in the World Cup Squad. I would definitely have people like Rishabh Pant, and Deepak Hooda (in the team). We have got KL Rahul, we’ve got Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma. Once they come back, it’s going to be tough for Dinesh Karthik to find a place in the playing XI. If he doesn’t have a place in the playing XI, there’s no point giving him a place in the squad,” Karthik added.
I will have a younger guy in place of Dinesh Karthik: Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir expressed that India should have a young all-rounder in the team in place of Dinesh Karthik. He added that the wicket-keeper will miss out unless the selectors drop someone from the top four. Gautam Gambhir said,
“Once KL, Rohit, Surya, and Virat are back, I don’t see him in the playing XI. This will be your top 4 and then you’ll have someone like Hooda, Pant, Hardik, and Jadeja. I will have a younger guy (in place of Karthik) who is a better fielder on those grounds and can probably chip in with a couple of overs as well.”
“Karthik, unfortunately, will have to miss out unless and until the selectors make a huge call and drop one of the top four,” he added.
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