India were handed their first defeat by South Africa in Perth on Sunday, October 30. Fans will be happy to know that this loss doesn’t derail the team’s campaign to make it to the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
India had to pay the price of batting first on a pace and bouncy Perth wicket. The top order struggled to get going as India were restricted to 133, which was chased down by the opposition with two balls to spare.
Dinesh Karthik’s hyper-specialised role in the format allowed him to make his comeback into the national team. However, he is yet to make a mark with the bat in the showpiece T20 event.
“He has the experience of playing here” – Virender Sehwag on Rishabh Pant
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag was displeased with Karthik’s approach in the game and said that Rishabh Pant should have gotten an opportunity. He said on Cricbuzz:
“This should have been the case from the first day. Rishabh Pant has played Tests and ODIs there and has performed and he knows how to perform in these conditions. When did Dinesh Karthik last play in Australia, when has he played on such bouncy wickets? This isn’t a Bengaluru wicket. I said this even today that Pant should’ve been in the team instead of Hooda, Pant has the experience of playing here. His Gabba innings is a legend.”
“I can only give them suggestion, it’s the management’s decision. If Karthik is fit, they will go back to him again. But according to me, Rishabh Pant should’ve been in the XI from the start,” he further added.
There was one other change made by India, bringing in Deepak Hooda instead of Axar Patel. Hooda, however, failed to make an impact after being dismissed for a duck and was not utilised with the ball. In Sehwag’s opinion, Pant would have been a better inclusion into the playing 11.
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