Sourav Ganguly on Rishabh Pant: Former captain Sourav Ganguly says India will miss Rishabh Pant in World Cup 2019.
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Former Indian southpaw and skipper Sourav Ganguly has once again subtly questioned the Indian team management on the exclusion of India’s 21-year-old sensation, Rishabh Pant from the upcoming 2019 World Cup squad. The wicket-keeper’s exclusion from the World Cup squad had raised quite some eyebrows when it was announced the previous month.
Ganguly was roped in as the the advisor of the IPL franchise Delhi Capitals this year. He has thus watched Pant closely throughout the course of the marquee tournament. Pant was exceptional with the bat the entire season. He amassed a total of 488 runs, averaging 37.53 in the 16 matches that he played in the tournament.
What did Ganguly say?
“India will miss Pant in the World Cup. I don’t know in whose place but he will be missed,” Ganguly told reporters at Eden Gardens. The selection committee opted for the 33-year-old, Dinesh Karthik as the second-wicket-keeper in the side instead of Pant who had impressed all, in the whatever limited chances that he had got in Indian colours.
Interestingly, India batsman Kedar Jadhav, who was also picked in the 15-member squad for the World Cup sustained some injuries during the league match between CSK and KXIP in this year’s IPL. He was ruled out of the remaining part of the league. We still have no conformation about the degree of seriousness pertaining to the injury, as neither the team management nor the medical staff have cared to comment over the issue.
Asked whether Pant’s name can crop up in case Jadhav fails to get fit, Ganguly said, “He is injured. It’s difficult to say whether he will get fit or not. I hope Kedar gets fit.”
ALSO READ: Why Pant is not included in the World Cup squad
Ganguly has been with Rishabh Pant for the past two-and-a-half months. He has perhaps seen the potential that Pant possesses, as to how handy he can be with for India due to his aggressive brand of cricket, more closely than anyone else. So when he comes up with such a statement he obviously makes sense with the abundance of experience that he has got.
Having said that, even picking Dinesh Karthik over Pant cannot be questioned. Karthik (as Pant) has done no wrong in the limited opportunities that he has got as well, and fittingly deserved a place in the side. The selectors have undoubtedly gone in for experience rather than raw talent, which is perhaps a better choice out as Pant still has many years of cricket left in him.
